About The Jab...

 

HIV/AIDS education is important.  Some people have the notion Gilead's Lenacapavir, the long lasting PReP option is a cure or a vaccine.  It's neither.  This medication can't cure an HIV+ person.  It can only prevent transmission of the virus.  What this drug could do if properly & widely administered is slowly starve out HIV in a type of siege war.  It would die with those currently infected with no other transmissions.

There's a lot of info regarding HIV, even more misinformation.  We have access to an abundance of resources to learn from.  That may not be the same everywhere in the world.  Education, awareness & prevention will always be as important as treatment.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Using Pharmacies...

 

Most of us have had to go to a pharmacy.  I'm in my local drugstore quite often.  Many provide more services than just getting prescriptions filled.  Some provide financial & bill paying options.  More importantly, these places often over vaccinations, assistance in getting meds filled & advice concerning your medications.  

This article is about a move to empower pharmacist to  do even more in regards to testing, prevention & prescribing.  This would be screening for HIV, STIs, hepatitis & potentially other communicable illnesses.  This would allow the pharmacy to provide testing, education, meds such as PEP & PrEP.   

Many people see a pharmacist more often than any other health professional.   They are often have better knowledge of medications & assistance plans than doctors.  The stores generally have more accessible hours & locations.  Expanding the role of the pharmacist could be a huge boost when dealing with these types of illnesses.  It could save a lot of funds that could be spent elsewhere.

Give this a read & look into the services your local drugstore offers.  

Cya...

Please Educate...

 

Please help raise awareness concerning HIV & its prevention.  Educate yourself to be as safe as possible.  The US government & others around the world have limited funds used to fight HIV & other illnesses.  The orange stain & his ilk have cut cash & information concerning HIV, other ailments & vaccines.  Russia has cut back on testing due to financial matters involving their war with Ukraine.  Many countries, especially in Africa, have experienced fund cuts & shortages.  

The only reason seems to be the-powers-that-be want the world to die of preventable, treatable illnesses.  These people aren't here to help you do anything else other than die.  Those cutting medical aid are vile, expect nothing but horrid actions from them.

The only thing I can say is, please educate yourself & be as safe as you can.   I know that's not enough.  But that's best some of us can do at this time.  Take care.

Cya...

Iowa Fatally Stupid...

 

This article is brief, but it goes to show just how F'ed conservative states really are.   Iowa has made it illegal to teach high schoolers any curriculum concerning HIV.  This block is the gist of the piece.

With 1 in 5 new diagnoses being people ages 13-24, this dangerous law could potentially leave students -- uninformed and unprepared in preventing, testing and treating HIV.

One again HIV has been directly tied to being Gay & that is being used to harm the youth of this state.  Way to go Iowa, show the world how mentally deficient the people governing your state really are.  

Cya...

HIV Pro Ed...

 

HIV education & awareness is the most fundamental  aspect of the fight against the virus.  Without this, there is no war on HIV?AIDS.  So why is it so few people, including health professionals, receive  adequate education about the illness?   

This piece is an overview of a survey given to emergency room nurses concerning HIV screening.  Almost half of these nurses never offered HIV testing in the emergency room.  Almost 1/3 of the nurses thought HIV screening in the emergency was of little or no importance.  Only 1/4 reported adequate education over HIV during training.  Half reported little to very little education concerning the virus during their nurse training.

Is this academic oversight, stigma or professional inadequacy?  Who knows?  It shows HIV education is lacking at every level involved with fighting the virus.  If nurses aren't well educated about the matter, how can we expect lay people to be?

Take care.

Cya...

Talk, Talk...

I saw this piece,  what it says isn't new or novel.  It simply states talking about HIV is the 1st step in fighting HIV.   The push to communicate about it has been a struggle since the 80s, but for a while we did talk & listen.  Then we stopped & HIV spread faster.    People need to hear about HIV; how it's spread, that's it not a judgement, that it can be prevented, that it can be treated.  People need to have this virus demystified.   They need very plain communication about an illness that's anything but simple.  If we  talk & educate about HIV, we can stop it.  Prevention will always trump treatment.

Cya...

Curriculum...

This article is about pharmacy colleges integrating the National HIV Curriculum.   For the 1st time in the midwest some university programs will incorporate the curriculum.   This is a big step.

The curriculum allows students & professionals to be better trained in HIV, medications, co-issues etc...   This an online program that can be used during training or for part of a continuing education for professional training.  This program is free & provides CME/CNE credit. (continuing med/nurse ed)  There is no point in not utilizing this resource.

Take care.

Cya.

HIV Talk...

Info about HIV has dwindled.  In the 90s, it was inescapable.  It was quite literally everywhere.  You could be easily be overwhelmed by it.   To the point, it desensitized people. 

Now, we don't talk about it.  We don't educate about HIV.  There aren't ads in the back of magazines.  As the idea of HIV retreated, so did the knowledge.  

Now, there's a rise in misinformation about HIV & STIs.  According to pieces like this, stigma is rising in young people.

Decreasing information, no matter how overwhelming, is never the answer.  Learn to redirect it & present it better.  But, never lessen the exposure to info that could protect a person's life or well being.   Some say it's a scare tactic, OK, maybe.  Better scared & safe than being HIV+ & full of bravado. 

Start honestly talking about HIV again.  

Cya...

They Don't Know...

I've blogged a lot about HIV awareness & education.  Still, society has moved more towards pure prevention, mostly via treatment.  Maybe those people should read this article.  According to this piece, Gen Z & later millennials have a much lower understanding of the virus than previous generations.  

28% avoid hugging, talking to or being friends with a HIV+ person

30% prefer not to interact socially with someone HIV+

41% Gen Z people said were not well informed about HIV, which differs from the 23% of the older millennials 

67% were most concerned about HIV compared to other STIs,  54% said they don’t use condoms or PrEP 

75% millennials & 60% Gen Z people overall living with HIV contracted via sex without condoms or PrEP

The rest of the article goes on about how some are trying to counter these stats.  It details the writer's frustrations.  30+ years of HIV & this is where we're at.  Yes, that's frustrating.  HIV will only be beaten by information & awareness.  No amount of medicine alone will solve this problem.

Cya... 

 

 

MD OpEd...

This is a short piece over a doctor's opinion of education & awareness in regards to HIV & other STI's.   It's to the point & a good read.  I've stated my opinion on the matter of HIV education before.  I still believe in the GI Joe quote, "Knowing is half the battle."  Knowledge is always power in any given situation & most people have precious little understanding when it comes to HIV, STI's & health matters.  

Educate yourself & stay as safe as possible.

Cya..

Chicken Or Egg...

For over a decade, there's been a debate about how to confront HIV.  Should the primary front be in prevention via education, awareness, condom promotion, etc...? Or should it be via treatment & support, AKA "Treatment as Prevention."?  I've made my feelings known about this before.  I think relying on treatment as prevention is a flawed strategy.

They're both incredibly important.  But ask yourself, would you rather have a great treatment plan available or would you rather never have contracted HIV in the 1st place?  I know which option I'd choose.

Take the auto industry.  For a long time, they opted to make cars stronger & more damage resistant so they could better survive accidents.  Think of early crash test dummies & all those tests about slamming into concrete barriers.  The cars were you, the barrier was the virus & the dummies showed whether or not you got infected.

Today, manufacturers still employ safety options like crash zones, strong frames, airbags, seat belts & the like.  But, they've changed their focus to things that can prevent the accident in the 1st place, like cameras, sensors, brake control, alerts, etc...  There are even commercials about avoiding the accident thanks to this technology.  

They still tout the strength of their vehicles & their ability to survive a collision.   But, they realize it's better if the accident never happened at all.   These new technologies being implemented in cars, they're the prevention angle of fighting HIV.  Let's not become + to begin with, if we can help it & we can help it.

Both approaches are needed.  They're prongs in the battle with HIV.  But, I will always contend prevention should be our 1st course of action.  The people who fight tobacco believe this.  That's why they've being trying to make tobacco less available & visible since the 1970s.  They're approach is working, the current approach in the war on HIV is not nearly as successful as it should be.

Caution & prevention are easier to live with when it comes to HIV than being on a life long regimen to manage a chronic illness.  I'm acutely aware of that point.   Be as safe as possible.

Take care.

Cya...

Celebrity Affect...

This article reports that Charlie Sheen's disclosure of his HIV status did more for HIV education than UN conferences.  In fact, the surge in info searches over HIV after Sheen's revelation was the highest since 2004.   This is the celebrity affect.  Often referred to as the "____" Affect.  Fill in the blank with Sheen, Jolie, Couric, Hudson, Mercury, Johnson, etc....

Sad as it may be, our society has to be led into things by famous people.  When a celebrity endorses, endures, or promotes something, the public listens.  Maybe to varying levels, but it obviously isn't based on the celeb's current star power.  Charlie Sheen was at his height over 5 years ago.  Before this announcement, he was looked at as just another washed-up, Hollywood mess.  Basically, a walking disaster. Post, his big reveal, he may not be back on top, but he's really salable.  

This was great PR for him & he was great PR for HIV education.  Jolie pushed awareness of issues concerning cancer involving breasts & the female reproductive system.  This is nothing new.   Star power can promote health education & research like nothing else, take  Take Danny Thomas & St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

It's a 2 edge sword.  If you get a famous person to promote your cause, then you 'll probably get some intense, if short term, interest & interaction.   If you can't, then what?  What happens when your celebrity endorsement wanes or another celeb pushes the next illness?   The world's fascination with the famous is a dangerous thing.  Especially if your healthcare is influenced by it.

While I'm thankful for the attention HIV is getting due to Mr. Sheen, I know it's fleeting.   I wish, as a people, we could have more self-confidence in our own self worth not to need such things.  I doubt that will ever happen.  

Cya..

Ignorance Prevails...

This article is about schools in the UK, but I have no reason to believe those in the US would fare any better.  The level of ignorance regarding HIV among the teaching staff was ridiculous.  Their willingness to spread outdated, misinformation intolerable.    For most of these instructors, HIV, nor even health, was their field.  However, if a teacher is going to discuss a matter in class, they should be competent on the matter.  There's tons of widely, easily available & verifiable information concerning HIV on the net.  Their indulgent ignorance is damaging & embarrassing to their profession, not to mention the children who might be + in their classes.

For more evidence of the ignorance regarding HIV, read the whole article, especially the comments.

Cya...

Still An Issue...

I've talked a lot about the stigma of living with HIV.   This article details a lot of these concerns for HIV +  people.  There have been great strides made in the medical treatment of HIV, but not in the mindsets of the people.  This article goes briefly into the concerns, fears & actual cases of discrimination against people for no other reason than their HIV status.  

I laugh when people say things are better.  Maybe in some places, but not in most.  This is another reason I dislike the idea of treatment as prevention,  Treatment does nothing to educate or further the understanding of the virus & those living with it.  That will only come with active education & communication.   No pill can do that.

The article's a good read.

Cya...

X2...

This article details how HIV transmission rates in young people ranging from their teens to their late 20's has doubled in Maryland.  After years of reversing course & curbing the spread of HIV. the virus is advancing again among the youngest in the population.    The  same thing is being witnessed across the nation.

Why?  Lack of information regarding HIV.   Lack of a sense of mortality among young people.  The inability of many teens to realistically comprehend risks & to react appropriately.    The very success of the fight against HIV has led to its failure.

The illness is no longer an immediate pronouncement of death.  Instead, its just the end of the life you had.   HIV is seen as a treatable, chronic illness, not the Grim Reaper knocking on your door.   The lack of education to these young people in any meaningful manner has left them vulnerable & in many cases +.

So much for the zero transmission movement.  The unwillingness of the public to educate & remain vigilant on the matter, combined with youthful indiscretion has led to another huge generation of people who will live the rest of their lives, HIV +.

Go Us, 

Cya...

Interesting...

The Ultimate Fight Club has teamed up with the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in an HIV awareness program.  The article tells more.  What I'm most interested in, is the fact this is a sports organization recognizing this issue & wanting to take part in it.  

This isn't just them being involved with HIV awareness, this is directly with a LGBTQ organization.  This is a big step in the USA.   The group is stressing this is no longer a gay disease, but 1 spread by lack of education & information.  

They are promoting testing & respect.  Forrest Griffin is the spokesperson for this campaign.   He pointed out he was tested for HIV before each of fights in the UFC octagon.   If the fighters can have that much respect for their opponents, why can't everyone else for their sexual partners?

A good article.

Cya...

Up, Yet Again....

You can Google these topics if you want.  They're everywhere right now.  1st is the development & rapid spread of a new strain of HIV in Russia.   2nd is the spike in new HIV cases in Australia.   Why am I putting these 2 topics together?  

Easy, they both have to do with a lack of communication & education.  According to many of the posts I've read, the Russian strain developed in Siberia.  An area, like most of Russia, that doesn't support much in the ways of sex ed.  There's little talking about how babies are made, let alone how STD's are spread.

Australia may have better sex ed, but the people aren't getting the message on HIV.  People are acting like it's the 1980's & that they don't have access to info about the virus & how to prevent it.  They're being indulgent. lazy & ignorant.

I've said before that communication is the key to ending HIV.  It really doesn't matter what meds are available or tests are possible, if people aren't going to talk about them & others won't listen.  The biggest detriment to ending HIV, even more than lack of funds, is ignorance.

Cya...

Knowing Is Half The Battle...

This graphic is taken from this article based on the CDC's recent HIV report in the US.  Guess what?  1980's cartoons were right, "Knowing is half the battle" or "Knowledge is Power."   Take your pick.   The point here is simple, the states with the darker colors have higher rates of HIV.  The darkness also corresponds with states that lack of a comprehensive sex education in the school systems.  

The states with educational requirements concerning sex ed & HIV/STD ed had lower rates of transmission. I guess that's just a coincidence.  I'm sure the Southerners will blame on the Gays, drug users & ethnics.

This is just another case where Bible Thumpers & other moral idiots  have damned people to ignorance, disease & death.  Religion & morals have been the drive behind the stigma surrounding HIV & sex.   They're  the reasons these things are so difficult for some people to talk about.  Until we remove the question of morality from the discussion, HIV will continue to flourish.

Thanks ever so much all you holier-than-thou shits.

Cya...

DC Senior Talk...

I've blogged about the greying of the HIV before.  Many believe by 2015, over half the HIV + population will be 50 or older.   This article discusses a new tactic in Washington DC, that aims education & testing at seniors.  

According to this, seniors are far less apt to talk about STD's & if they do turn out to be +, they're diagnosed much later.  This late diagnosis increases their risks to already be suffering AIDS related illnesses & complications.  It also adds to the probability they've already further spread the virus.  

However, 1 in 5 of newly diagnosed HIV cases are people who are 50 & above.  These people have all the same risks as anyone else.  Many people, even other seniors, don't want to deal with the fact these people are still having sex.  Many of these people came from a generation when safe sex wasn't concept talked about to anyone other than sailors hitting risque ports of call.

I'm interested in how all this will pan out.

Cya...

Left Alone...

Recently there have been reports of HIV transmission rates in Australia increasing.  Like many countries  they've been fighting the virus since the 1980's.  They thought they were getting a grip on transmission rates a decade ago & they had plateaued 5 years ago.  They were incorrect, the numbers of new cases has increased.  They're looking into earlier treatment options now.  

What I took away from this article, is that every weapon that can be used in the war on HIV is of vast importance & should all be used in concert.  From education, testing & treatment, no one is more valuable than the other.  Most of all, health professionals can't be allowed to become lax.  There has to be a constant push to be aware of HIV & how it's transmitted.  There has to be a nonstop drive for people to get tested frequently.  Then there is an utter necessity to treat these people as early as possible. 

Without any of those 3 things, this battle against AIDS will not go as we've hoped.  We will lose this war if we can't manage to provide education, testing & treatment.  I really don't understand why that is so hard to understand.  

Cya...