Please... don't forget...
So many people seem to have forgotten what a huge issue this is... it has not gone away! Many of the people contracting AIDS are contracting strains that are immune to most of the drugs out there... then what?!? We need to find new drugs to combat an ever mutating virus.. we need to find a cure!
I wish I would have known today was coming, I would have tried to participate somewhere here. Because I didn't this is my small contribution.. in the hopes of raising awareness somewhere.
I know, myself, I hadn't really thought of the AIDS epidemic much since the 90s. It was such an enormous force back then, with movies like Philidelphia, the story of Ryan White... it was intense! Everywhere you looked you saw Red Ribbons.. even at the Oscars people were wearing them. Every show you turned on had some sort of acknowledgment... then nothing. It's as though someone, somewhere decided AIDS was no longer a priority. It was something that was just getting better and going away. Then last semester Cleve Jones came to talk at UCFV. Who is Cleve Jones? He was the founder of the AIDS quilt. He was a politician/activist that was in SanFrancisco when the AIDS epidemic was first arising in the US. He watched many of his friends die of complications from the virus, and he himself has AIDS. He almost died, and was lucky enough to get an expirimental drug... the cocktail.. he was one of the first to receive it. Now, because he's been on so many different medications, he is on the last available mix, and it won't be long until he is immune to that as well.
One thing he talked about was the transmission of HIV.. how if he was to pass on the virus to someone, they would have the same immunities he has. The person he infected would be.. to put it honestly.. screwed. That is apparently one reason why the epidemic is rising.. because the people who are newly infected don't have many options available to them. There are millions of people in India who are infected.. they are getting to the point which Africa was at... but how many of us know that?
I know I didn't.. a few people I talked to had no idea... maybe we're just clueless.. maybe not.. maybe there are actually numerous people out there who do not realize the continued and increasing dangers of AIDS and HIV.
I hope that is not the case... I hope it is simply the case that I alone have gone along and not realized the crisis that looms around the next corner.
One of the things that Cleve mentioned made me ill. If a pregnant woman has HIV and they give her some pills before she gives birth, and give the baby some pills after they are born, that baby will not contract the HIV virus. That baby will grow up happy and healthy, and the pills cost... I can't remember the exact amount.. but it would cost the government around $100 somewhere around there. So.. you would think that would be what they would do automatically.... but they don't. It is extremely difficult for pregnant women to get that medication, or the funding, and the babies end up with HIV, and more medical costs down the road. Why?!? It's ridiculous! Why would you not want to help that child have a future, and because it's the government.. thinking in terms of money, why wouldn't you want to save the future costs of health care?
He also mentioned how buying the pills can cost thousands of dollars less from an indirect source.. because these people need the medicine.. so why not try and milk some more money out of them? Who cares if a lot of them are in the low income bracket and can't afford the medications on their own.. who cares if they will end up dying... it's all about making a buck right?
Anyhoo.. I know this wasn't the most scientific little announcement... filled with facts and figures.. because I'm not trying to get funding from any of you! I'm just relating the little bit of information I have in an effort to raise even a slight awareness among those of you who may or may not know what's going on... and maybe it will lead to increased funding b/c some of you (me included) may participate in future fundraising events.. and help raise greater awareness wherever we are located... because it is important.
At least I think so...
Anyhoo.. on a lighter note..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!
I love you hun!!!
Love you all.. :)
So many people seem to have forgotten what a huge issue this is... it has not gone away! Many of the people contracting AIDS are contracting strains that are immune to most of the drugs out there... then what?!? We need to find new drugs to combat an ever mutating virus.. we need to find a cure!
I wish I would have known today was coming, I would have tried to participate somewhere here. Because I didn't this is my small contribution.. in the hopes of raising awareness somewhere.
I know, myself, I hadn't really thought of the AIDS epidemic much since the 90s. It was such an enormous force back then, with movies like Philidelphia, the story of Ryan White... it was intense! Everywhere you looked you saw Red Ribbons.. even at the Oscars people were wearing them. Every show you turned on had some sort of acknowledgment... then nothing. It's as though someone, somewhere decided AIDS was no longer a priority. It was something that was just getting better and going away. Then last semester Cleve Jones came to talk at UCFV. Who is Cleve Jones? He was the founder of the AIDS quilt. He was a politician/activist that was in SanFrancisco when the AIDS epidemic was first arising in the US. He watched many of his friends die of complications from the virus, and he himself has AIDS. He almost died, and was lucky enough to get an expirimental drug... the cocktail.. he was one of the first to receive it. Now, because he's been on so many different medications, he is on the last available mix, and it won't be long until he is immune to that as well.
One thing he talked about was the transmission of HIV.. how if he was to pass on the virus to someone, they would have the same immunities he has. The person he infected would be.. to put it honestly.. screwed. That is apparently one reason why the epidemic is rising.. because the people who are newly infected don't have many options available to them. There are millions of people in India who are infected.. they are getting to the point which Africa was at... but how many of us know that?
I know I didn't.. a few people I talked to had no idea... maybe we're just clueless.. maybe not.. maybe there are actually numerous people out there who do not realize the continued and increasing dangers of AIDS and HIV.
I hope that is not the case... I hope it is simply the case that I alone have gone along and not realized the crisis that looms around the next corner.
One of the things that Cleve mentioned made me ill. If a pregnant woman has HIV and they give her some pills before she gives birth, and give the baby some pills after they are born, that baby will not contract the HIV virus. That baby will grow up happy and healthy, and the pills cost... I can't remember the exact amount.. but it would cost the government around $100 somewhere around there. So.. you would think that would be what they would do automatically.... but they don't. It is extremely difficult for pregnant women to get that medication, or the funding, and the babies end up with HIV, and more medical costs down the road. Why?!? It's ridiculous! Why would you not want to help that child have a future, and because it's the government.. thinking in terms of money, why wouldn't you want to save the future costs of health care?
He also mentioned how buying the pills can cost thousands of dollars less from an indirect source.. because these people need the medicine.. so why not try and milk some more money out of them? Who cares if a lot of them are in the low income bracket and can't afford the medications on their own.. who cares if they will end up dying... it's all about making a buck right?
Anyhoo.. I know this wasn't the most scientific little announcement... filled with facts and figures.. because I'm not trying to get funding from any of you! I'm just relating the little bit of information I have in an effort to raise even a slight awareness among those of you who may or may not know what's going on... and maybe it will lead to increased funding b/c some of you (me included) may participate in future fundraising events.. and help raise greater awareness wherever we are located... because it is important.
At least I think so...
Anyhoo.. on a lighter note..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIZABETH!!!
I love you hun!!!
Love you all.. :)
PS... Fill this out in the comment part Please :)
Just fill in the blanks with what you think... :)
I _______ Jen.
Jen is _______.
If I were alone in a room with Jen, I would _______.
I think Jen should _______.
Jen needs to _______.
I want to _______ Jen.
Someday Jen will _______.
Jen reminds me of _______.
Without Jen _______.
Memories of Jen are _______.
Jen can be _______.
Worst thing about Jen is _______.
Best thing about Jen is _______.
I am _______ with Jen.
1 comment:
Hey Jen !
We bought our home in PG :) Yahoo. Now you can come visit. I'm pretty stoked, althought my Xmas holidays are gonna consist of stress, packing and moving! OH well.
So here are the comments you wanted filled:
I miss Jen.
Jen is irreplaceable.
If I were alone in a room with Jen, I would (its too dirty to tell).
Jen needs to be proposed to by Rylan.
I want to always be friends with Jen.
Someday Jen will be the best policewoman in the world.
Jen reminds me of that favorite piece of chocolate that will soothe you no matter how bad your day was.
Without Jen I would have travelled my past roads with a lot more difficulty.
Memories of Jen are unforgettable.
Jen can be outspoken.
Worst thing about Jen is she forgets about herself sometimes.
Best thing about Jen is everything else.
I am blessed to be with Jen.
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