Wednesday, October 14, 2009

A quiet week

I took the opportunity this week to return to the interview that we had to do with three different people a few weeks ago. One of my younger brothers has been vocalizing a worry about HIV since I talked with him. I think it is because he is a little more promiscuous than most people, and I try to curb that behavior with different facts that I have been learning. The slides from our statistic module has helped out, but I think overall the interaction with someone that he trusts is helping out. I can see that it scares him to death just thinking about the possibility of him acquiring HIV, but I have to make sure that he knows it is a very real possibility if he continues with reckless abandon. I've been trying to share some of the films that we watch with my family as well, but it just seems that there is no interest in them watching it. Its hard to see them turn a blind eye to the videos because of their incredible message that they carry with them. I almost feel that this would be most of our countries reaction when asked to watch these movies, and it is a shame because people need to see what can happen and what does happen when this disease enters someone's life.

DID YOU KNOW?

I have been discussion HIV medications over the last couple weeks and what I have come across is recent information about the amount of people who are actually receiving this medication. The UN has published that almost half of all individuals who are afflicted by HIV/AIDS are getting the medications that they need (Emerging, 2009). Other findings from this same study show that last year there was a total of 9 million dollars spent on AIDS relief and about ever 23 cents per dollar went towards the medications, but this is all said to increase by as much as 50 percent because people may start being treated earlier and also it is found that because of drug resistance different methods will be pursued (Emerging, 2009).

Source: Emerging Diseases. (2009). Aids Medication Coverage Increases 10-fold in 5 years. Retrieved from http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=44207

DYK pt. 2

As of 2006 in Japan, it is found that they share many of the same rights when it comes to the confidentiality of HIV and living with the disease. In Japan they view HIV and a person's privacy as basic human rights that must be respected in all fashions when it comes to situations such as employment and medical treatment (Noda, 2004). It is noted that as an actual governmental policy that the government is to work with the "Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Justice" to try and eliminate all discrimination against people whom have HIV and to protect their rights (Noda, 2004).

Source: Noda, P. J. (2004) Japan's Response to the Spread of HIV/AIDS. Retrieved from http://www.jcie.or.jp/thinknet/pdfs/hiv.pdf

3 comments:

  1. Yea, your brother promescuity will definitely put him at major risk for contracting HIV/AIDS if he's not careful.I like the fact that you are trying to educate him because he (we all) need it. You can tell him all it takes in one time. Is it really worth it?

    You say the UN states that almost half of infected people are recieving the medications they need. Call me ignorant but shouldn't it be more than that? Is half good or bad. I don't have much education on medication prices and how thw budget is spent. I'm assuming it's bad because they are increasing from 23 cent to the dollar to 50 cent to the dollar. That is def a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The people I am in contact with also hear me speak about this class and too get worried about HIV. Unlike your brother however I dont think any of them will go take an HIV test. I have grown up with most of my friends for the past ten years and went to the same schools. Our schools growing up had no HIV agenda in class and was not considered a problem to us. After goin to the panel and hearing the women speak about Breavard County (wehere I grew up)and how the politians say HIV is not a problem for it is rediculous. So I hope my friends and family suck it up and get tested if they are doing any risky behavior.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am not surprised that Japan has such a strict code. Their health care plan makes it extremely easy for a person to receive care, but if their status was revealed, then people would not get tested and seek that care. The same is true for all countries regardless of how HIV positive people are dealt with. If you out people with HIV, then others will never get tested and the disease will keep spreading. The American government has a lot to learn from other countries.

    You need to take your brother to a testing site and hold his hand until it is time for the interview. You can't be in the room with him at that stage. Then hold his hand while he waits for the results. Be there for him when he gets his results. When they come back negative, tell him he dodged a bullet and in he continues down his chosen path the next time he might not be so lucky.

    ReplyDelete