A potentially big breakthrough toward an AIDS vaccine: U.S. government scientists have identified three antibodies, one of which neutralizes 91% of all HIV strains. This makes it the most potent HIV-killer to date.
"The antibodies were discovered in the cells of a 60-year-old African-American gay men, known in the scientific literature as Donor 45, whose body made the antibodies naturally. Researchers screened 25 million of his cells to find 12 that produced the antibodies. Now the trick will be for scientists to develop a vaccine or other methods to make anyone's body produce them."
Henrietta-Lacks (2)-thumb-400xauto-7959 I like the sound of "Donor 45" more than the sound of "Patient Zero". Cautiously optimistic, although the leader of the research warns, "We're going to be at this for a while." I hope Donor 45 doesn't wind up like Henrietta Lacks (pictured), the African-American woman whose "HeLa" cells "helped cure a generation" of various maladies thanks to their unique ability to thrive once reproduced but who never received money, credit or thanks. Of course, Lacks never gave consent for her cells to be used, while Donor 45 did. (Thank you, Donor 45.)
source: towleroad
Showing posts with label HIV-AIDS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HIV-AIDS. Show all posts
HIV drug combo ups heart disease risk
The combination of two anti-HIV drugs places the consumers at an increased risk of experiencing dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities, FDA officials announce.
A recently-released FDA statement reported that taking saquinavir (Invirase) combined with ritonavir (Norvir) is associated with adverse heart effects.
The two drugs are classified as protease inhibitors which suppress HIV replication in the body; their application, however, is rather different.
Ritonavir is routinely used as a booster of other drugs in the class rather than as therapy on its own. Saquinavir, on the other hand, is always used with a booster.
The FDA statement revealed that the combination of the two drugs is associated with a dose-dependent prolongation of the QT and PR intervals on an electrocardiogram, leading to torsades de pointes or heart block.
These conditions are commonly presented as lightheadedness, fainting, or abnormal heart beats. They sometimes may progress to ventricular fibrillation, which can be life-threatening.
FDA officials, therefore, urged HIV positive individuals, particularly those taking medications known to cause QT interval prolongation (Class IA or Class III anti-arrhythmic drugs) along with patients with a history of QT interval prolongation, preexisting conduction system disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or underlying structural heart disease, to avoid the consumption of the combination of the two drugs.
source: presstv.ir
Preventing Top Most Common Health Issues
Heart disease
The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with "cardiovascular disease" — a term that generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as infections and conditions that affect your heart's muscle, valves or beating rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.
Stats:
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States.
• Between 70 percent and 89 percent of sudden cardiac arrest occurs in men.
• Half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms.
• Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.
Symptoms:The five major symptoms of a heart attack are pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back; feeling weak, light-headed or faint; chest pain or discomfort; pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders; and shortness of breath.
Risk factors: Several medical conditions and lifestyle choices can put men at a higher risk for heart disease, including high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking, being overweight or obese, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol use.
Prevention tips: Don't smoke, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Drink in moderation. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control. Manage your stress.
If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's treatment recommendations.
Prostate cancer
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. A walnut-size structure, the prostate surrounds the male urethra like a doughnut. Its purpose is to secrete fluid to carry sperm during ejaculation.
Stats:
The American Cancer Society estimated that about 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer would be diagnosed in 2009 and that 27,360 men would die of prostate cancer in 2009.
Symptoms: There are often no symptoms in early stages. See a doctor if you have changes in urination, blood in urine or semen, or frequent pain in your lower back and legs.
Risk factors: Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is very rare before the age of 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. Almost two out of three cases of prostate cancer are found in men over the age of 65.
It's not known why, but prostate cancer occurs more often in black men. They also are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men.
Research into the causes, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer is being done in many medical centers around the world.
Prevention tips: Men should start getting an annual digital rectal exam and PSA blood test generally by age 50, or earlier with certain risk factors.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, affects the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Possible complications of type 2 diabetes include heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage.
Stats:
• Of the nearly 24 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, 12 million are men.
• Nearly a third of men with diabetes don't know they have it.
• Amputation rates from diabetes-related problems are 1.4 to 2.7 times higher in men than women with diabetes.
Symptoms: Diabetes can be silent, but you may feel tired and fatigued. Other signs include frequent urination (especially at night), extreme thirst, unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, sores that heal slowly, and recurring skin, gum or bladder infections.
Men with diabetes also face special concerns, including impotence (not being able to have or keep an erection). Men with diabetes can help prevent impotence by controlling their blood sugar, avoiding large amounts of alcohol and not smoking.
Prevention tips: If you are overweight or someone in your family has diabetes, get tested for pre-diabetes. You also can help turn things around by losing extra weight, exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
Researchers in Texas have been studying a new drug called Vardenafil to treat erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes. Bayer, maker of the drug, has said this is a promising result for a previously hard-to-treat group of men.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure damages arteries, which can lead to stroke from a blocked artery or hemorrhage. Strokes also are called "brain attacks" – they kill brain cells.
Symptoms: High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer" because it often has no symptoms. One in three Americans who have the condition don't know it – people can have it for years without knowing. Get your blood pressure checked annually; normal blood pressure is 120/80 or below.
Risk factors: Typically, blood pressure increases with age. Risk of high blood pressure starts to climb when men hit 45, although it can occur in younger men.
Black men tend to develop high blood pressure at a younger age and have more severe hypertension.
Obesity or a family history of high blood pressure also increases risk.
Prevention tips: There is plenty you can do to prevent, delay and treat high blood pressure.
Know your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. If numbers go above normal, get them down through diet, exercise and, if needed, medication.
If you smoke, get serious about quitting.
HIV/AIDS
AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. HIV makes you more susceptible to certain types of cancers and to infections your body would normally resist, such as pneumonia and meningitis. The virus and the infection itself are known as HIV. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, is the name given to the later stages of an HIV infection.
Stats:
• Roughly 1 million people in the United States now live with HIV or AIDS.
• At least 40,000 people are infected each year.
• Overall, black men are still hardest hit by HIV/AIDS in terms of the overall infection rate. Statewide, one in 43 African-American men are living with HIV/AIDS, compared with one in 117 Hispanic men and one in 209 non-Hispanic white men.
Symptoms: Although some people experience a mild flu-like illness around the time of infection, many people with HIV go without symptoms for up to 10 years. Because of this, the only way to know if you are HIV positive is to be tested.
Some symptoms associated with advanced HIV infection include: purple lesions on the skin, rapid weight loss, pneumonia, night sweats and fever, and white spots on the mouth, tongue or throat.
Prevention tips: Whether you're heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, if you engage in high-risk behavior such as unprotected sex or sharing needles during intravenous drug use, get tested for HIV. Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still transmit the virus to others.
The best hope for stemming the spread of HIV lies in prevention, treatment and education.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association
The term "heart disease" is often used interchangeably with "cardiovascular disease" — a term that generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as infections and conditions that affect your heart's muscle, valves or beating rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease.
Stats:
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men in the United States.
• Between 70 percent and 89 percent of sudden cardiac arrest occurs in men.
• Half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms.
• Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.
Symptoms:The five major symptoms of a heart attack are pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back; feeling weak, light-headed or faint; chest pain or discomfort; pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulders; and shortness of breath.
Risk factors: Several medical conditions and lifestyle choices can put men at a higher risk for heart disease, including high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking, being overweight or obese, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol use.
Prevention tips: Don't smoke, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Drink in moderation. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control. Manage your stress.
If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's treatment recommendations.
Prostate cancer
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. A walnut-size structure, the prostate surrounds the male urethra like a doughnut. Its purpose is to secrete fluid to carry sperm during ejaculation.
Stats:
The American Cancer Society estimated that about 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer would be diagnosed in 2009 and that 27,360 men would die of prostate cancer in 2009.
Symptoms: There are often no symptoms in early stages. See a doctor if you have changes in urination, blood in urine or semen, or frequent pain in your lower back and legs.
Risk factors: Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is very rare before the age of 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. Almost two out of three cases of prostate cancer are found in men over the age of 65.
It's not known why, but prostate cancer occurs more often in black men. They also are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, and are more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men.
Research into the causes, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer is being done in many medical centers around the world.
Prevention tips: Men should start getting an annual digital rectal exam and PSA blood test generally by age 50, or earlier with certain risk factors.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, affects the way your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Possible complications of type 2 diabetes include heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage.
Stats:
• Of the nearly 24 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes, 12 million are men.
• Nearly a third of men with diabetes don't know they have it.
• Amputation rates from diabetes-related problems are 1.4 to 2.7 times higher in men than women with diabetes.
Symptoms: Diabetes can be silent, but you may feel tired and fatigued. Other signs include frequent urination (especially at night), extreme thirst, unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, sores that heal slowly, and recurring skin, gum or bladder infections.
Men with diabetes also face special concerns, including impotence (not being able to have or keep an erection). Men with diabetes can help prevent impotence by controlling their blood sugar, avoiding large amounts of alcohol and not smoking.
Prevention tips: If you are overweight or someone in your family has diabetes, get tested for pre-diabetes. You also can help turn things around by losing extra weight, exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.
Researchers in Texas have been studying a new drug called Vardenafil to treat erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes. Bayer, maker of the drug, has said this is a promising result for a previously hard-to-treat group of men.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure damages arteries, which can lead to stroke from a blocked artery or hemorrhage. Strokes also are called "brain attacks" – they kill brain cells.
Symptoms: High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer" because it often has no symptoms. One in three Americans who have the condition don't know it – people can have it for years without knowing. Get your blood pressure checked annually; normal blood pressure is 120/80 or below.
Risk factors: Typically, blood pressure increases with age. Risk of high blood pressure starts to climb when men hit 45, although it can occur in younger men.
Black men tend to develop high blood pressure at a younger age and have more severe hypertension.
Obesity or a family history of high blood pressure also increases risk.
Prevention tips: There is plenty you can do to prevent, delay and treat high blood pressure.
Know your cholesterol and blood pressure numbers. If numbers go above normal, get them down through diet, exercise and, if needed, medication.
If you smoke, get serious about quitting.
HIV/AIDS
AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. HIV makes you more susceptible to certain types of cancers and to infections your body would normally resist, such as pneumonia and meningitis. The virus and the infection itself are known as HIV. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, is the name given to the later stages of an HIV infection.
Stats:
• Roughly 1 million people in the United States now live with HIV or AIDS.
• At least 40,000 people are infected each year.
• Overall, black men are still hardest hit by HIV/AIDS in terms of the overall infection rate. Statewide, one in 43 African-American men are living with HIV/AIDS, compared with one in 117 Hispanic men and one in 209 non-Hispanic white men.
Symptoms: Although some people experience a mild flu-like illness around the time of infection, many people with HIV go without symptoms for up to 10 years. Because of this, the only way to know if you are HIV positive is to be tested.
Some symptoms associated with advanced HIV infection include: purple lesions on the skin, rapid weight loss, pneumonia, night sweats and fever, and white spots on the mouth, tongue or throat.
Prevention tips: Whether you're heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, if you engage in high-risk behavior such as unprotected sex or sharing needles during intravenous drug use, get tested for HIV. Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still transmit the virus to others.
The best hope for stemming the spread of HIV lies in prevention, treatment and education.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association
Individuals with HIV are found to suffer from premature aging of the brain
Individuals with HIV are found to suffer from premature aging of the brain, either from the infection or from the treatments. Scientists say the findings of concerning, given the present statistics that 14 to 18 percent of HIV infections in the US are among the over 50 age group. Cognitive decline and memory loss are being reported by individuals with HIV. Researchers say brain aging associated with HIV is a public health concern that needs more study.
First author Beau Ances, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology at Washington University says, "Patients are surviving into their senior years, and a number of them are coming forward to express concerns about problems they're having with memory and other cognitive functions." By the year 2015, fifty percent of individuals with HIV in the US will be over age 50, making the effects of HIV infection and treatments a significant public health concern.
HIV studies have shown that the infection ages the body by ten years and has an adverse effect the heart, liver, endocrine system, skeleton and kidneys. Now scientists, using a technique known as arterial spin labeling that measures blood flow to the brain, have been able to find the effect of brain aging by comparing 26 uninfected HIV subjects to 25 patients who have HIV.
The study showed increased blood flow to the brain in HIV infected patients asked to perform visual tasks, showing that the brain had to work harder, even among younger subjects. "Brain blood flow levels decline naturally as we age, but HIV, the medications we use to control it or some combination of the two appear to be accelerating this process independent of aging," Ances says.
Ances suggests that premature aging of the brain associated with HIV infection should be used as criteria for beginning medication treatment. "Could we reduce the harmful effects of the virus if we started treatment earlier, or does treatment significantly contribute to the harm that's being done?" Ances asks. "These are the kinds of issues we urgently need to start examining as the AIDS patient population ages." Premature aging of the brain associated with HIV infection could lead to full blown dementia as HIV infected patients who are living longer progress to their senior years.
SOURCE: emaxhealth
First author Beau Ances, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology at Washington University says, "Patients are surviving into their senior years, and a number of them are coming forward to express concerns about problems they're having with memory and other cognitive functions." By the year 2015, fifty percent of individuals with HIV in the US will be over age 50, making the effects of HIV infection and treatments a significant public health concern.
HIV studies have shown that the infection ages the body by ten years and has an adverse effect the heart, liver, endocrine system, skeleton and kidneys. Now scientists, using a technique known as arterial spin labeling that measures blood flow to the brain, have been able to find the effect of brain aging by comparing 26 uninfected HIV subjects to 25 patients who have HIV.
The study showed increased blood flow to the brain in HIV infected patients asked to perform visual tasks, showing that the brain had to work harder, even among younger subjects. "Brain blood flow levels decline naturally as we age, but HIV, the medications we use to control it or some combination of the two appear to be accelerating this process independent of aging," Ances says.
Ances suggests that premature aging of the brain associated with HIV infection should be used as criteria for beginning medication treatment. "Could we reduce the harmful effects of the virus if we started treatment earlier, or does treatment significantly contribute to the harm that's being done?" Ances asks. "These are the kinds of issues we urgently need to start examining as the AIDS patient population ages." Premature aging of the brain associated with HIV infection could lead to full blown dementia as HIV infected patients who are living longer progress to their senior years.
SOURCE: emaxhealth
Helpful tips when talking to your child about difficult subjects like AIDS
World AIDS Day is Tuesday, December 1st, and it is dedicated to raising awareness about the AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) pandemic. Parents can help raise awareness by talking to their children about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS. As challenging as it is, parents can learn how to talk about these sensitive topics with their children. Children often prefer to get information about sex or HIV from their parents. It's an opportunity to provide accurate information, along with sharing your own personal values.
According to WebMD, research has shown the benefits of parent-child communication. Parents should not let the lack of confidence or fear keep them from discussing AIDS and other difficult yet important topics with their child. Below are suggestions for opening the lines of communication between parents and children.
If you're uncomfortable talking about the subject, be honest with your child.
Start by finding out what they already know. You can build on that and dispel any misconceptions.
Take advantage of "teachable moments." Movies, television shows, public service announcements, or even the birth of a baby or pet can be great conversation starters.
If you have more than one child, speak with them separately to allow for more open, age-appropriate discussion. Use simpler words with a younger child.
Parents don't need to give all the information at once.
When you talk, give your child your undivided attention, asking questions to find out the level of understanding.
Don't put off questions. If you don't have the answer, find out.
Don't talk about AIDS in your first discussion about sex. Connecting the two from the beginning may leave the wrong impression.
Once you start talking about AIDS, be prepared to discuss death.
There are many benefits to talking about AIDS with your child. The following benefits of open communication are from WebMD:
Talking with children about HIV and AIDS increases the chances of delaying sex and protects against risky behavior.
Talking about HIV and AIDS decreases the chances of unprotected sex.
If the use of condoms is discussed before teens have sex, they are three times more likely to use condoms later on.
Teens who discuss sex with parents are seven times more likely to feel comfortable talking with a sex partner about HIV and AIDS.
It is a fact of life these days that kids are going to hear about AIDS. It's in the news, it's taught in schools, and it's talked about on the playgrounds.
Much of what your children might hear may be inaccurate or conflict with your values. It is important to open the lines of communication with your children so they feel comfortable talking with you about sensitive subjects. This way you can provide accurate facts, as well as your own beliefs and values.
SOURCE: examiner
This Man is Confident That Yoga Can Fix AIDS
Jagannath D B (45), a city based HIV+ve patient has given up ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) and is instead banking on ayurvedic medicines and yoga taught by Acharya Balakrishna, an associate of yoga teacher Baba Ramdev to treat him of HIV. "Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna have assured me that my AIDS will be cured.
I'm resolute. I hope to be the first case to be cured of AIDS. You will see me with HIV-ve report on December 1, 2010, the next World AIDS day," said Jagannath.
Jagannath, who was found HIV +ve in 1995, had been on ART since 2003 but gave it up in favour of Baba Ramdev's prescriptions after a trip to the yoga teacher's ashram in Haridwar from November 16 to 21. Jagannath was part of an advanced training camp for yoga teachers from Karnataka.
Jagannath now follows a regimen prescribed by Baba Ramdev that includes ingestion of some medicines prepared by Acharya that are to be taken twice a day. "Acharya and Baba Ramdev have assured me that the procedure will completely cure me of AIDS in a year," Jagannath said.
"Acharya Balakrishna's medicine has benefited my husband's health considerably. His ESR rate has improved after a long time," said Lepakshi TR, Jagannath's wife.
Srinivas Reddy, youth president of Swami Ramdev organizations Bharat Swabhiman and Patanjali Yoga Peet, said, "We have treated over 70,000 cases of incurable diseases, including HIV. Jagannath will certainly succeed if he follows the treatment prescribed by Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna."
The regimen
No usual food
Three meals a day
Each meal to comprise two apples, two oranges, one sapota and a banana
No salt to be used
Yoga for three hours a day
Eight pranayamas to be done a day
Eight asanas to be done a day
The Other Side
DR C A Kishore, medical director, Ayurdhama, who has been treating HIV-AIDS patients for years now. However, said that AIDS can't be cured. "AIDS is a symptom complex. While we may strengthen the patient's immune system by introducing lifestyle changes, we don't have a complete cure for the condition so far."
source: mid-day
Yoga: A Tool Against HIV/AIDS
A "yogathon," held in the shadow of the soon-to-be-razed BART headquarters building near Oakland, CA's Chinatown, raised money to help maintain Asian Health Services' HIV/AIDS program.
Asian Health Services (AHS) has been serving the diverse low-income Asian and Asian American population of Alameda County, California, for 35 years, based out of Oakland's Chinatown.
Its doctors, nurses and other medical specialists and staff dispense care in at least 10 languages (English, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Khmer, Mien, Mongolian, Tagalog, and Lao) plus dialects of some of these languages.
Its work has won national recognition, but that doesn't make it immune from the current economic downturn.
If you buy into the simplistic stereotype that the Asian and Asian American population, whether in Alameda County or all over the United States, is well off and can easily afford private health care, then you know very little about the realities of this population subset.
Yes, there is a portion of the Asian and Asian American community that lives in or on the edge of poverty, and some aren't fluent enough in English or familiar enough with the mainstream system because they are recent immigrants.
One area of AHS's multifaceted medical care that's been particularly hard hit is its prevention and educational outreach program to lower income Asian and Asian Americans who may have HIV and AIDS. This program educates these patients about the disease and gets them tested and treated.
In fact, the modest HIV/AIDS program of Asian Health Services has lost 70 percent of its budget because of sharp cutbacks from Alameda County, which in turn has experienced deep slashes in funding from the State of California. The 70 percent cut translates into a $41,000 reduction in AHS HIV/AIDS program.
That may not sound like a lot of money, but it means a deep reduction in the workload of the one AHS staff member who has been doing a herculean task of reaching out to lower income Alameda County HIV and AIDS patients who are of Asian descent.
"Despite AHS's commitment to this issue, if new funding doesn't come in the next couple of months, we'll have to consider whether we can sustain the position or not," said Linda Okahara, director of community services for AHS.
To begin to close the $41,000 gap, AHS held a yogathon on Saturday, October 3, in Madison Square Park in Chinatown. About 50 people, including me, did as many as 100 poses over a three and one half hour period to help this worthy cause. Ten Asian American yoga instructors donated their time.
The yogathon raised approximately $8,000, and AHS is applying for grants and looking for other funding sources to make sure its HIV/AIDS program continues its essential work.
The yogathon was the brainchild of Patty Hirota-Cohen, who happens to be the sister of Sherry Hirota, the long-time chief executive officer of AHS. Patty teaches yoga at AHS and at Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland.
She said, "My sincere hope is that HIV/AIDS is something we can talk about openly in the API (Asian Pacific Islander) community."
Her statement gives a clue about the challenge AHS faces about HIV/AIDS in the Asian and Asian American communities of Alameda County. This challenge is not unique to these communities, but it is acute in the Asian American population because it's largely a taboo subject.
This is especially so for lower income Asian immigrant men -- approximately two thirds of the HIV/AIDS cases at AHS. Many of them are in denial about the possibility of contracting HIV, which can lead to full-blown AIDS, after they've had unprotected sex with other men, according to AHS's Okahara.
AHS has found that many of its HIV patients contract AIDS in a relatively short time period, an indication of testing late. That suggests these patients either don't know the risks or deny the possibility of getting the disease by waiting too long to get tested.
Dr. Sophy Wong of AHS said:
Since API (Asian Pacific Islander) testing is very low, we don't know the true prevalence of HIV/AIDS in our communities (or abroad, for that matter). The fact that in 2008, 83 percent of the API men having sex with men in Alameda County were late testers means they got diagnosed so late that they progressed to AIDS within one year of diagnosis.
That shows us that there are many API folks who don't know their HIV status until it's really late, much later than after the point we would normally start medications. The AHS program is important to inform the API community that HIV screening is important and accessible, and that treatment and management are available to all who test positive so it's not a death sentence anymore.
This is why AHS wants to at least maintain its HIV/AIDS program. The recent yogathon was one strategy to raise much needed funds to restore the program to its previous standard.
If you want to contribute to help AHS maintain its much needed work to combat HIV/AIDS, contact Asian Health Services.
HIV/AIDS: Housewives under threat
“It does not concern me, it concerns them.” --Them referring to sex workers and drug addicts. This is what most Mauritians generally think.
They are under the impression that they are safe from AIDS, which has turned into a world pandemic within no time. However, the facts are there. The HIV virus is attacking more and more women who are not necessarily sex workers and drug addicts. They are housewives who have non-protected sexual relationships.
Initially, when AIDS was gaining ground in Mauritius, it was found that this was happening because of widespread use of shared needles for injection, among the drug addicts.
However, the trend has reverted. The HIV is getting more feminised and that too among women who least expect to be infected by it. They are usually the housewives. This problem does not escape the attention of the Ministry of Women, Child's Development and Family Welfare.
To sensitise people to the gravity of the situation and to see together what can be done, the Ministry in association with the AIDS Unit of the Ministry of Health, Prévention Information Lutte contre le Sida (PILS) and Dr Idriss Goomany Centre conducted an interactive session on the incidence of HIV/AIDS on women recently.
Present on the occasion, the Minister Indira Seebun revealed that “in contrast to the impression that we had that HIV/AIDS is only for the African countries, there are now many heterosexual couples who are being affected. 48% of patients affected by HIV are women. All this is due to infidelity in couples,” she says. Her Ministry is promoting fidelity, specially among menfolk. Alongside, she reiterated that many men do not want to use condoms. She pursued by saying that if a woman has doubts about her partner, she better protects herself.
“Protecting oneself has got two advantages. Firstly, it limits the risk of the propagation of the disease. Secondly, it also helps in family planning,” she says.
Long time back, people did not know about female contraceptive methods, but now these have become popular throughout the globe and Mauritius is no exception to this new trend, she adds.
Devarajen Chellapermal of the AIDS Unit of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life says that AIDS is no more seen as a deadly disease.
“It has become rather a chronic disease, just like Diabetes,” he says.
However, he emphasises the fact that prevention is better than cure. He explains that women are more at risk than men. During sexual intercourse, very little vaginal fluid can penetrate the urethra, but seminal discharge can verily easily spread to the vaginal walls. Thus, the risk of the woman being infected by the HIV positive male is far higher than the man being infected by the HIV positive female.
Devarajen also explains that many young girls are also infected by the virus because in order to get sexual experiences, they go out with men who are much older than them, usually married, unfaithful men. Besides, the sexual organs of the young girls, still being in the development period puts them more in danger of contracting the disease.
Pregnancy period, delivery time and post-natal period can be dangerous for babies whose mothers are HIV positive.
“The probability that pregnant, HIV positive women infect their babies before, during and after birth, is at 30%,” says Devarajen. He explains that during the third term of pregnancy, when the baby starts moving in the womb of the mother, the latter's blood can get in the umbilical cord. However, the infected women are recipient to anti-retroviral treatment during that same period.
Then, during delivery, the infected
blood of the mother can get into the eyes, nose, mouth for these organs are open. Following the birth of a child, through breastfeeding, the infected mother can pass on the virus to her infant. Nevertheless, this third transmission possibility can be avoided through cesarian (depending on the woman's health), and feeding the child with powder milk instead of mother's milk (the government is providing infected mothers with powder milk for two years following the birth of their baby).
Brigitte Michèle of PILS votes for education and prevention as the means and solution to combat HIV/AIDS. She explains that women are very vulnerable with the practice of sodomy.
“Many women, in order to preserve their virginity until their marriage, resort to sodomy for their sexual satisfaction. This is dangerous. There are veins which can break. Thus, an infected man can very easily transmit the virus to his partner,” she says. Furthermore, when a woman is raped, she is more prone to contract the HIV, than a willing woman.
According to her, young girls must delay their sexual activities. Other advice which she gives are to stop multiple partner practice, women sexual health empowerment, going for HIV tests, among others. She also expounds on the in-depth and intertwined relationship between poverty and prostitution.
Many sex workers do not resist the refusal of their clients to use condom. Still many prostitutes are incited to consume drugs following a sexual intercourse. Other women are sent to sell their bodies, by their partners, to earn money for drugs. These realities but endanger those women. She suggests that sex workers should be registered and obtain a health card which would allow them to follow treatment.
Female condom was high on the agenda. Brigitte explains that it is very useful in cases where the man does not want to make use of condom. Additionally, she can place the condom eight hours before intercourse; it is washable and can therefore be re-used. But, it is not yet accessible in all places and quite expensive, compared to male condom.
Is there a cure for AIDS?
Worryingly, many people think there is a 'cure' for AIDS - which makes them feel safer, and perhaps take risks that they otherwise wouldn’t. However, there is still no cure for AIDS. The only way to stay safe is to be aware of how HIV is transmitted and how to prevent HIV infection.
Anti-retroviral treatment can prolong the time between HIV infection and the onset of AIDS. Modern combination therapy is highly effective and someone with HIV who is taking treatment could live for the rest of their life without developing AIDS.
An AIDS diagnosis does not necessarily equate to a death sentence. Many people can still benefit from starting anti-retroviral therapy even once they have developed an AIDS-defining illness. Better treatment and prevention for opportunistic infections have also helped to improve the quality and length of life for those diagnosed with AIDS.
Real life story
A woman infected by HIV says that she met her future husband twelve years back. The latter told her that he was HIV positive. Still, she agreed to marry him. The following year, they got married. At first, the couple used to take precautions during sexual intercourse. But then, the woman stopped resorting to condoms. She explains that she knew what was awaiting her in terms of the risks she was running. Yet, she remained firm on her decision. Eventually, she got infected too.
“I wanted to share that with my husband. I wanted to know what he was undergoing so that even I could understand and share the same,” she says.
Years later, she still loves her husband as much as she used to before their marriage. When asked if she does not regret having taken the decision of quitting the use of condom, she replied. “No regrets,” she says.
SOURCE: defimedia.info
They are under the impression that they are safe from AIDS, which has turned into a world pandemic within no time. However, the facts are there. The HIV virus is attacking more and more women who are not necessarily sex workers and drug addicts. They are housewives who have non-protected sexual relationships.
Initially, when AIDS was gaining ground in Mauritius, it was found that this was happening because of widespread use of shared needles for injection, among the drug addicts.
However, the trend has reverted. The HIV is getting more feminised and that too among women who least expect to be infected by it. They are usually the housewives. This problem does not escape the attention of the Ministry of Women, Child's Development and Family Welfare.
To sensitise people to the gravity of the situation and to see together what can be done, the Ministry in association with the AIDS Unit of the Ministry of Health, Prévention Information Lutte contre le Sida (PILS) and Dr Idriss Goomany Centre conducted an interactive session on the incidence of HIV/AIDS on women recently.
Present on the occasion, the Minister Indira Seebun revealed that “in contrast to the impression that we had that HIV/AIDS is only for the African countries, there are now many heterosexual couples who are being affected. 48% of patients affected by HIV are women. All this is due to infidelity in couples,” she says. Her Ministry is promoting fidelity, specially among menfolk. Alongside, she reiterated that many men do not want to use condoms. She pursued by saying that if a woman has doubts about her partner, she better protects herself.
“Protecting oneself has got two advantages. Firstly, it limits the risk of the propagation of the disease. Secondly, it also helps in family planning,” she says.
Long time back, people did not know about female contraceptive methods, but now these have become popular throughout the globe and Mauritius is no exception to this new trend, she adds.
Devarajen Chellapermal of the AIDS Unit of the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life says that AIDS is no more seen as a deadly disease.
“It has become rather a chronic disease, just like Diabetes,” he says.
However, he emphasises the fact that prevention is better than cure. He explains that women are more at risk than men. During sexual intercourse, very little vaginal fluid can penetrate the urethra, but seminal discharge can verily easily spread to the vaginal walls. Thus, the risk of the woman being infected by the HIV positive male is far higher than the man being infected by the HIV positive female.
Devarajen also explains that many young girls are also infected by the virus because in order to get sexual experiences, they go out with men who are much older than them, usually married, unfaithful men. Besides, the sexual organs of the young girls, still being in the development period puts them more in danger of contracting the disease.
Pregnancy period, delivery time and post-natal period can be dangerous for babies whose mothers are HIV positive.
“The probability that pregnant, HIV positive women infect their babies before, during and after birth, is at 30%,” says Devarajen. He explains that during the third term of pregnancy, when the baby starts moving in the womb of the mother, the latter's blood can get in the umbilical cord. However, the infected women are recipient to anti-retroviral treatment during that same period.
Then, during delivery, the infected
blood of the mother can get into the eyes, nose, mouth for these organs are open. Following the birth of a child, through breastfeeding, the infected mother can pass on the virus to her infant. Nevertheless, this third transmission possibility can be avoided through cesarian (depending on the woman's health), and feeding the child with powder milk instead of mother's milk (the government is providing infected mothers with powder milk for two years following the birth of their baby).
Brigitte Michèle of PILS votes for education and prevention as the means and solution to combat HIV/AIDS. She explains that women are very vulnerable with the practice of sodomy.
“Many women, in order to preserve their virginity until their marriage, resort to sodomy for their sexual satisfaction. This is dangerous. There are veins which can break. Thus, an infected man can very easily transmit the virus to his partner,” she says. Furthermore, when a woman is raped, she is more prone to contract the HIV, than a willing woman.
According to her, young girls must delay their sexual activities. Other advice which she gives are to stop multiple partner practice, women sexual health empowerment, going for HIV tests, among others. She also expounds on the in-depth and intertwined relationship between poverty and prostitution.
Many sex workers do not resist the refusal of their clients to use condom. Still many prostitutes are incited to consume drugs following a sexual intercourse. Other women are sent to sell their bodies, by their partners, to earn money for drugs. These realities but endanger those women. She suggests that sex workers should be registered and obtain a health card which would allow them to follow treatment.
Female condom was high on the agenda. Brigitte explains that it is very useful in cases where the man does not want to make use of condom. Additionally, she can place the condom eight hours before intercourse; it is washable and can therefore be re-used. But, it is not yet accessible in all places and quite expensive, compared to male condom.
Is there a cure for AIDS?
Worryingly, many people think there is a 'cure' for AIDS - which makes them feel safer, and perhaps take risks that they otherwise wouldn’t. However, there is still no cure for AIDS. The only way to stay safe is to be aware of how HIV is transmitted and how to prevent HIV infection.
Anti-retroviral treatment can prolong the time between HIV infection and the onset of AIDS. Modern combination therapy is highly effective and someone with HIV who is taking treatment could live for the rest of their life without developing AIDS.
An AIDS diagnosis does not necessarily equate to a death sentence. Many people can still benefit from starting anti-retroviral therapy even once they have developed an AIDS-defining illness. Better treatment and prevention for opportunistic infections have also helped to improve the quality and length of life for those diagnosed with AIDS.
Real life story
A woman infected by HIV says that she met her future husband twelve years back. The latter told her that he was HIV positive. Still, she agreed to marry him. The following year, they got married. At first, the couple used to take precautions during sexual intercourse. But then, the woman stopped resorting to condoms. She explains that she knew what was awaiting her in terms of the risks she was running. Yet, she remained firm on her decision. Eventually, she got infected too.
“I wanted to share that with my husband. I wanted to know what he was undergoing so that even I could understand and share the same,” she says.
Years later, she still loves her husband as much as she used to before their marriage. When asked if she does not regret having taken the decision of quitting the use of condom, she replied. “No regrets,” she says.
SOURCE: defimedia.info
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