This article talked about the AIDS pandemic in the last 10 years focusing on Africa and the United States. It was written not only to bring awareness to people about World Aids Day (December 1), but also to look at why AIDS rates are falling. This is wonderful news especially in places like Africa which “account for 74% of cases worldwide”, and dispels the misguided notion that AIDS is a disease only affecting the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community.
AIDS rates are dropping because of education, rising health care coverage, falling drug prices, and preliminary testing.
Groups which used to be excluded from adequate AIDS treatments- such as the LGBTQ community and prostitutes- are now being offered equal opportunities for treatment and medication. This is great, because by working together people can educate each other about AIDS and prevent transmission, especially from mother to child and between partners.
When the AIDS epidemic became prevalent in the 1980’s, people were frightened but made plans to eradicate the disease similarly to the eradication of Smallpox in 1979. With “1.2 million HIV-infected people in this country [the United States]” who don’t know they have the disease, early detection is key to stopping the spread of disease. This is a picture of the hands of a man who has AIDS in Africa.
I really connected to this article because of its connection to the LGBTQ community, and the AIDS awareness stuff that the GSA will be doing in December. For a disease so rampant among young people because of its mode of transmission (sexual and during birth), I don’t understand why more isn't being done to prevent it. Ugh. At least the statistics at the bottom of the article are comforting.
This reminded me of our Black Death unit because of how highly infectious and deadly AIDS is. With “34 million people living with AIDS” worldwide, it is one of the most deadly and most rampant modern pandemics.
They are also similar in that specific groups have been targeted in connection with the disease (the Jews for poisoning the wells which started the Black Plague epidemic, and gay men for spreading the disease). This made me think about how culture and religion might influence what people’s preconceived notions about AIDS are like how the Miasma Theory and Four Humors Theory were practiced in the Middle Ages.
More information on World AIDS Day can be found at the World AIDS Day website: http://www.worldaidsday.org/about-world-aids-day.php
** The World AIDS Day image is from: http://www.google.com/imgres?start=296&num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=1280&bih=703&tbm=isch&tbnid=-kRWsgbe2qFxiM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ambergristoday.com/node/5885&docid=MjUGXFqzmlj1gM&imgurl=http://www.ambergristoday.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/page_full/image/World-AIDS-Day-2012_0.jpg&w=615&h=410&ei=AWa1UJ29ONKB0AHp3oDQAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=440&vpy=139&dur=344&hovh=181&hovw=272&tx=149&ty=65&sig=103418895026103222555&page=11&tbnh=157&tbnw=236&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:98,s:200,i:298
**The AIDS patient's hands picture is from:http://www.google.com/imgres?start=149&um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&biw=585&bih=671&tbm=isch&tbnid=bKqiUchqeHF_4M:&imgrefurl=http://howtocureayeastinfectionathome.net/hands-of-aids-patients&docid=EGwRYUuav8b0UM&imgurl=http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/28/2811/C6JOD00Z/posters/the-hands-of-aids-patient-areernt-forrest.jpg&w=473&h=473&ei=Uly1ULmyEaaT0QHAr4D4CQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=131&vpy=12&dur=255&hovh=158&hovw=149&tx=138&ty=56&sig=103418895026103222555&page=9&tbnh=144&tbnw=134&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:55,s:100,i:169
Kathryn, I am also very distraught at the lack of deserving attention AIDS has as it is such a terrifying concern across the globe. It's a very big relief that the number of cases is depleting due to education, etc. I, too, feel that AIDS should be a much larger focus because of it's impact on the community. The fact that such a large portion of humanity must live with this rapidly spreading disease truly makes it a modern black death, in a sense. Your article brings much more attention to the effect this disease has on the world than I even realized initially.
ReplyDeleteI also see the connection you're making to the epidemic of the Black Death where a specific group has been targeted and blamed for the spread of the disease. There is definitely a similarity between the perception that the Jewish community intentionally poisoned wells in order to infect everyone else and the blame directed at gay men for the spread of AIDS today.
Although AIDS is nothing new, it has definitely made a larger reach across civilization than those unaffected may realize. It's very good to know that the research of this disease is looking up in recent news!
A couple of weeks ago, my friend asked if I wanted to go with her and her dad to serve Thanksgiving dinner to people in Boston. She didn't tell me much about it, but I was still happy to help. We got there and saw saw almost a hundred tables set up and a big stage. We were told that we shouldn't start serving until the speeches and dedications were over. The people began entering the room, and they all looked different. They seemed to be from different places and different economic backgrounds. I grew more and more curious about who these people were.
ReplyDeleteThe MC came onto the stage and introduced himself as Jim from Kiss 108. As he explained what the night was all about I began to understand why everyone was so different. The dinner was for people suffering from AIDS and their families. The disease does not just affect the LGBTQ community. It affects so many other people.
After dinner, there were two performers. Everyone one stood up and began dancing. Many of these people were suffering, but it was amazing to see them all come together against this disease.
Before this event, I knew very little about AIDS and how it affects people. I don't understand how many people know so little when so many people are affected by it.