Blog #3

This week there are alot of thoughts going through my head after QOTW #4. I have one friend who is really uneducated about HIV and does not seem to care about learning about it. Every week when I learn something new in this class I share it with him, because he is sexually active and I want him to become aware. This is a class that truly has an impact on my life and will continue to after the semester is over. I am interning at Orlando Health and being in a hospital setting you are around alot more diseases. I am fine with this and I know how to protect myself. I do not mind being around HIV patients, because I am a more educated individual. These individuals can have a positive impact on my life. It helps me to appreciate life more and to not worry about little stuff, because life is not promised. We do not know what is going to happen tomorrow so might as well enjoy life while we are here! This class has truly opened my eyes about how much the lives of everyone is affected when one person has HIV Disease. I was speaking with a gentleman at the hospital recently and I told him about this course and the Africa example. He told me that if it was up to him alone he would not take the blood, because it might just be his time to go. Since he is married with kids, he said that the decision would be up to his wife. The reason for this is due to the fact that if he takes the blood transfusion and does become HIV positive he would still be interacting with his kids and wife. He said that if one of them were to become infected because of him he does not know how he would be able to live with himself. In my opinion this shows how the lives of so many people can be changed when one person contracts the disease.
I met a guy who I really like and this class defintely has an impact on how I view our relationship and the decisions I make. He understands that I do not want to rush into anything and I told him about this course and the way it has changed some of my views. When I was reading Jeromy's blog I found it interesting that his HIV diagnosis made him take control of his life. This makes me realize that I should not let anything or anyone get in the way of my purpose and drive in life. I respect Jeromy's strength and he inspires me.

Did You Know?
It is estimated that more than 350,000 HIV infections have been averted due to prevention efforts. More than $125 billion in medical costs have been averted due to prevention efforts. The CDC has estimated that more than 56,000 people in America become infected each year. About 1 in 5 people in the U.S. are infected with HIV and are unaware that they have the disease. This emphasizes the need for prevention. The more people who get tested the less people will unknowingly spread the disease. The cumulative number of cases through 2007 for adolescents and young adults between the age 15 and 25 is estimated to be 100,000. Prevention will have an impact on these numbers. I believe that there should be HIV prevention in high school health classes. This will educate the young folks, because not all parents are well educated on the topic. When I was in grade school I remember the teachers splitting up the girls and boys and having the sex talk with us. The sex talk is important, but so is the STD talk. Adolescents and young adults need to be given all the facts so that they can make good decisions. High school classrooms is a great place to spread the education about HIV, because there has been a standstill to the education on this. The only impact this can have is a negative one. Prevention is essential in keeping the number of cases down.


Web: (2009) Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved Septmeber 22, 2009 from, http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/print/basic.htm#aidsage
Web: (2009) Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 22, 2009 from, http://www.cdc.gov/HIV/resources/reports/hiv_prev_us.htm