The organization I decided to write about this week is ACON which is located in Australia. Community health and well being is the focus of this organization. The most common service that is provided by ACON is education sessions. Campaigns are always taking place in an effort to spread knowledge throughout the community. This is beneficial, because it improves the health of HIV positive individuals as well as informing HIV negative individuals of the risk and precautions that should be taken. There is counseling in different forms available. There is a one on one session weekly, group therapy and a referral service for those needing specialist cares (ACON, 2008). There is a Positive Living Centre located in Sydney and I believe that the work done here has a wonderful impact on HIV positive individuals in Australia. This reason for this is due to the fact that this facility provides social events and skill building programs (ACON, 2008). People who are HIV positive do not have to deal with it alone. ACON also sells supplemental vitamins at a discount rate and gives out safe-sex packs (ACON, 2008). ACON is truly making a difference in the lives of Australians.
Did you know?
This week I will continue my discussion on prevention. I will be focusing on adolescents and young adults. The estimated number of children diagnosed with HIV and AIDS under the age of 15 is about twenty eight (Avert, 2009). The age group 15-25 has the least amount of HIV diagnoses and deaths in 2007.
Did you know that in 2007 about 37,000 children under the age of 15 became infected with HIV through mother to child transmission (Avert, 2009)?
The best way to prevent this is for the mother to take antiretroviral drugs. HIV positive mothers should also refrain from breastfeeding. If HIV positive mothers do not use any type of treatment around 15- 30% of their babies will become infected with HIV during the pregnancy or during labor.
In my opinion, this truly emphasizes the need for prevention for individuals who are HIV negative as well as those individuals who are HIV positive. HIV negative individuals should be taking preventive measures to ensure that they do not become infected. HIV positive individuals should be taking the necessary precautions to ensure that they do not share the disease with others. No matter who you are or what you do HIV is a reality and we should all be doing what we can to stay healthy and to make a difference!
Web. (2008). ACON. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from
http://www.acon.org.au/services
Web. (2009). Avert. Retrieved Septmeber 15, 2009, from
http://www.avert.org/usa-race-age.htm
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I think prevention is a good topic because it is something we haven't discussed in this class yet. Granted everyone pretty much knows what precautions to take from being infected with the disease, its a nice change of pace to read about rather then the effects of the disease
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that people should focus a lot more on prevention. Even if a person is negative today, that doesn't mean that they can't become positive tomorrow. It is very important for people to realize how scary it is and that its very important to protect yourself.
ReplyDeleteAre your figures for the US or worldwide? You might want to read the UNAIDS 2008 report on the AIDS pandemic. They have some good numbers you can use and they discuss the pandemic around the world by country and region. It is an eye opener.
ReplyDeleteI want to see your general blog in addition to the add on and the Did You Know segment. I am trying to see how students are growing in this class and unless you address that topic I won't be able to tell.
So the Questions of the Week are causing you to reevaluate your feelings about persons with HIV/AIDS or the entire problem? You have to remember that HIV doesn't just affect those who are infected; it also impact those in the life of the person who becomes infected. As you realized with this weeks Question, not taking the blood impacts your life and the life of those around you. Nothing is done in a vacuum.
ReplyDeleteMan up is a program designed to make men think with their heads rather than their penises. Since in many cultures, men still have the upper hand, it is their responsibility to prevent the spread of HIV. Many women don't have that ability because they can't control what happens to them. By making the man responsible, it helps those women.
I would like to see more in your general blog than two sentences. I'm sure if you think about it you can come up with more to say about how this class is impacting your life.
Excellent Article ...
ReplyDeleteThis will improve the health of HIV postive individuals as well as informing HIV negative individuals of the risk and precautions that should be taken.
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