Statistics

During this past week I have found myself thinking more and more about this class and what it means to be HIV+ and just how differently the world would treat you if you in fact had the virus. The threat of the disease is also thrust upon you when you consider the statistics around the world and the spread that we have become accustomed to. Learning about our own state is beneficial, but I simply can't help but think about the population sometimes when I am out and about, whether it is downtown or just out running errands. When thinking about family this week, I remember when someone that I know went through a period of 8 months where he felt that he might have put himself into a situtaion to have contracted the virus from someone. I remember how worried he was, and how incredibly stressed out he felt. Then I quickly remembered how it didn't seem to phase me, almost as if I didn't care at all. I was much younger at the time, but I guess it is just so very hard to be moved by something if it doesn't happen to you sometimes.

Did you know??

That there are six different forms of medication to fight HIV that are currently approved by the FDA. Each of these six categories have a couple drugs that carry out a specific function in the body to help combat HIV, and it seems that they have developed some very interesting drugs to help combat the reproduction of HIV in the body and there are descriptions of the basic functions attached under the names.

I was looking around at different organizations that are set up to help out the youth population that are affected by HIV/AIDS. I came across an organization that I would think is quite unique. The name of the organization is the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

The coalition is coordinated by individuals from many countries across the globe and their ages are from 15-30! They are active in multiple countries and take place in global events that are focused on awareness and education. They also provide services to youth such as three free online courses that are focused on how to be active in political circles and even how to properly write for grants and fundraising. They also coordinate youth in areas so they can become tied into the local political scene...it seems that they are constatnly recruiting more and more people to help in their cause and tying all of the local organizations into one larger worldwide network. Their website also says that the "GYCA shares information on scholarships, training opportunities, events, campaigns, and publications with its members on a regular basis. As a member of GYCA you will connect with others working in your community, country, and region". This organization is great because without this type of movement throughout the world, the uneducated and unmotivated youth population will have no voice and without people like this in local communities the negligence can lead to a further spread or the virus. To find out more about this organization you can go to http://www.youthaidscoalition.org/index.html. It is well worth checking out and it gives all of us a tie into the HIV movement with people that are of our own ages.