HIV/Aids pills
Original article published by REAL HEALTH TREATMENTS
Beginning to understand the challenges of HIV/AIDS starts
by dealing with some of the common myths people tend to believe about the
disease. The following are some of the myths and the actual facts about the
disease.
1. 1. HIV/AIDS is mostly a disease of homosexual
men
Primarily spread by heterosexual sex,
HIV/AIDS now infects as many women as men worldwide. Although the disease was
first recognized in the United States among gay men, it is also significantly
spread among IV drug users. Internationally, it is more often a disease of
heterosexuals.
2. HIV/AIDS is mostly an African problem.
Found in every country in the world, HIV infections are
growing most rapidly in countries outside of Africa, including India and
Russia. Many African countries have been decimated by HIV/AIDS, but the impact
is also significant in Asia, Eastern Europe, and India.
3. HIV/AIDS spreads mostly because of poor moral
choices
Women are often infected by their husbands. Children most
often contract HIV by being born to HIV+ mothers. It isn’t helpful or
meaningful to determine who is at fault or who is an innocent victim.
4. Plenty of money is being spent on fighting
HIV/AIDS.
While a great deal of money is being spent by governments,
private organizations, and individuals to fight HIV/AIDS, much more is needed.
5. HIV/AIDS is no longer a problem in developed
countries like Canada, the United States e.t.c.
Because medications (Antiretrovirals or ARVs) are widely
available in developed countries, the death rate has decreased. But the
number of people living with HIV/AIDS has not decreased and the rate of new
infections is not declining.
6. ARVs are widely available
While antiretrovirals are becoming more available, they are
still difficult to find in many rural areas and in some countries. Both drugs
and systems to distribute them are needed in many poor countries.
7. A cure exists for HIV/AIDS
While there are treatments to prolong life, there is no
cure. Many scientists are working on a cure but few believe there will ever be
one way to effectively cure someone because the virus constantly changes.
8. There is no hope for those with HIV/AIDS
Great progress is being made in treatments and the rate of
infant infection in some countries is dropping rapidly. There is also a
dropping rate of new infections in many countries with strong prevention
programs.
9. If I’m not HIV+, the disease doesn’t affect me
The high rate of HIV/AIDS infections is causing instability
in many countries and reversing the progress made in development. It is also
causing a worldwide tuberculosis pandemic. Every community is affected. A
pandemic affects everyone even if not immediately recognized.
10. There’s nothing I can do
Everyone can do something. First, become educated. Then help
teach others in your church, school, and community. Begin to care and pray
about how you and your church, school, and community can become involved.
Begin
to share your knowledge with your peers to help break HIV stigma and the discrimination that exists in most communities today and to encourage others to
be a part of this fight to end the stigma of those affected or infected
with HIV/AIDS.