Antiretrovoral treatment is now reaching many more people

Although progress is being made daily by the health powers to be , there is a lot more that can be done. The ultimate goal is to have a cure for HIV in the near future.
Don't hesitate to do your part.

Today's statistic:

"One out of every four new infections in South Africa is in young women between the ages of 15 and 24, experts say in remarks distributed by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. He said the number of new HIV infections among young women remain a major challenge. Although with a higher infection rate, South Africa puts more HIV patients on antiretroviral treatment, compared with other African countries. One in five people on antiretroviral treatment in the world lives in South Africa. That means 250,000 of those 2.4 million are being treated in the public sector in South Africa, according to the government. "  

More feeds from the last AIDS conference

Still learning from the last international AIDS conference.

getting this information from time to time will help us stay current and be able to help someone living with the disease.

The statistics continue to be alarming despite what region is being highlighted.

" Most HIV infections in the past 12 months across the world took place in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to figures released Wednesday. During the period, over two million more people have contracted HIV, bringing the number of people living with HIV to 35 million globally, says a report released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Xinhua reported. The UNAIDS report points out that of the 35 million HIV infected people, 19 million do not know they have the virus.

Close to 13 million people now have access to antiretroviral treatment (ARV), an increase of 2.3 million from last year.  Three out of four people on treatment are in Sub-Saharan Africa. This comes as more people get tested and governments secure funding for treatment. South Africa continues to bear the brunt of the HIV epidemic. One in five new HIV infections in the world took place in South Africa, chief executive officer of the South African National AIDS Council, Doctor Fareed Abdullah, said. "

Encouragement.

Loved this when I came across it today. It simply encouraged me to continue to volunteer and give of myself to others at any opportunity .

If we all try to do this , I think the world will be a better place.

"The worth of a human being lies in the ability to extend beyond oneself, to go outside oneself, to exist in and for other people."

RACE , POVERTY & AIDS

"Even before the conference began, we learned about new breakthroughs that might help in the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine. Researchers identified three antibodies that when combined provide protection against 99 percent of strands of the virus, and the primary antibody was found in a Black man.

A few days before the conference opened, President Obama released the first U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy. The strategy explicitly calls for focusing on the most at-risk populations including Black Americans, men who have sex with men and people living in the south and north east.

The first major story of the conference was about race, poverty and AIDS. To make sure that this story was characterized and contextualized in an accurate way, a delegation of Black journalists met with a representative of the CDC to provide a Black perspective on this study.

The third and most moving experience of this conference is the story about microbicides. This story is important for women, and it's particularly important for Black women across the Disapora and in Africa. The fact that this extremely elegant clinical trial and presentation were performed completely by South Africans exposes the lie and the stereotype that Africa can't deliver quality science."

My Thoughts:

If we are having a problems here in the US , you can only imagine that the difficulty is even more in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is hard to focus on the at risk population let alone everyone that is infected.

Yes Africa can deliver quality science and has always done so , what we lack is the resources to bring this science to the local population such that it will help reduce infection rate.

Waiting to hear some suggestions by end of Conference !

INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE GOING ON NOW !!

Excepts coming in now from the Black AIDS Institute , currently attending the International AIDS conference in Melbourne 

"Light at the End of the Tunnel

The evidence on AIDS has never been more compelling or more exciting. As a result of research breakthroughs, including proof that antiretroviral therapy reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 96%, we now have the tools to lay the foundation for the end of the epidemic. In the quest to end AIDS, no group has more at stake than Black America, which accounts for less than 14% of the U.S. population but for 44% of new HIV infections.

But ending AIDS won't happen with rhetoric. It requires sound action, national solidarity, the active involvement of those most affected, a commitment to results, and a willingness to let evidence be our guide. "

Will bring you more form the conference via statelite. Learning a little each day goes a long way.

Nurturing is vital !

Most of the time , we concentrate on making sure disadvantaged kids get food to eat , a place to stay , education and vocation. Although these are all important things, there is a great need for these kids to be nurtured as well.

For us to give them the best and the most that we can afford , we need  someone to nurture and guide them as they develop life skills and sustenance them to become mature individuals.

A child might have it all but lack love , care and concern. Someone to simply listen and pay attention to them , to love them , to hug them , to validate them. This is why we need volunteers to not only donate financially but to give the free gift of time and a listening ear.

When you spend time with another person, give them your whole attention and focus , you never know how much you can positively impact their life in those few minutes or hours. Providing communication, willingness to listen, compromise, and comfort in knowing that someone actually cares for them and that they are worthy.

There has been reports that shows supporting and encouraging "vulnerable" children  increases their positive self image and helps to avoid negative expectations and stereotypes of everyday life.

Thinking about more ways to help FOADAC kids and many like them around the globe is what I was thinking about today:)

If you have some other great ideas, please don't hesitate to add it to the comment box.

Thanks

My Sister , My Friend ( The End )

For the past almost three months,

Silence and pain is what has become the friend I never wanted , yet it seems to have made its home with me. Dreams of the future with my sister are now  gone , and wonderment of words not said or wanting to say it or to hug her close , to never let her go.

 I will love her forever, might seem like empty words now , but I feel that way because  I had hoped for her to be in my live forever.  There is no greater gift in life than a Sister or a Brother

Losing my sister was like no other pain I’ve ever felt. She meant a lot to me.  "No one can ever replace Abby. Her death brought me terrible anguish, for my heart is filled with pain and loss. I continue to yearn for the sight, smell, voice and feeling of Abby ever since she passed. It is almost impossible to fathom that she is no longer here. However, I believe that beyond our death we will find something similar but far greater than we can imagine.

  

God's love welcomes us like a warm blanket, wrapping us up to support, protect and comfort us in eternal joy. Death is only a passage into a larger loving family. Dear Abby as you transition into your new loving family that I know nothing about, I will always savor those moments we spent together though few and far between in recent times.  

I will miss your laugh, the funny times, the times we argued even. One thing I know for a fact is that you are free from all your pains and I will forever be very proud of you. God wanted you now, God set you free.

You will be in our hearts forever.

Love always !