Hey everyone,
OMG, I can't believe this is my last blog!!! It was such a great experience that I enjoyed so much and I know I will truly miss it. This class taught me so much; I learned alot of great information that I will carry on for the rest of my life, and I will share with everyone I meet. I am sure we all feel like our eyes, minds, and hearts have been opened to the truth about HIV and what it can do to all of us.
I feel like this course met my expectations. I wanted to learn so much about HIV and inform others about it to help prevent the spread of this killer. I learned so much in this class, I loved all the assignments, and to my surprise, I enjoyed writing so much; I've never enjoyed writing tons and tons of papers for a class before, but this one was really worth it. When I have kids in the future, I know I’m going to set down with them and teach them about HIV just like I learned in this great class and I will also teach them the importance of having protected sex; I figured I can always start teaching my kids at an early age if we want HIV "education" to work!
Did you know?
This is my last did you know section, but I promised myself that I will not stop researching facts and information about HIV after we finish this class.
Did you know that the AIDS clock now reads: 34, 797,997 People living with HIV????!!!!! This is crazy; the numbers are increasing so fast, I really wish we can figure out a way to slow them down in the future.
Also, did you know some of the reasons that there is HIV/AIDS stigma in the world are due to the following:
"1. HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease, and therefore people react to it in strong ways.2. HIV infection is associated with behaviors (such as homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution or promiscuity) that are already stigmatized in many societies.3. Most people become infected with HIV through sex which often carries moral baggage.4. There is a lot of inaccurate information about how HIV is transmitted, creating irrational behavior and misperceptions of personal risk.5. HIV infection is often thought to be the result of personal irresponsibility.6. Religious or moral beliefs lead some people to believe that being infected with HIV is the result of moral fault (such as promiscuity or 'deviant sex') that deserves to be punished" (AVERT, 2009)
Reference:
HIV and AIDS discrimination and stigma. AVERT (2009). Retrieved November 25, 2009, from http://www.avert.org/aidsstigma.htm
AIDS clock. Retrieved november 25, 2009, from http://www.unfpa.org/aids_clock/
It's almost over....
Hey everyone,
Oh God, my weekend was CRAZY!!! I was moving to a new house and had to pack, unpack, clean, and aggghhhhhhh so BUSY! And to make it all worse, my internet is down, and it won't be fixed before Monday! I am so tired; I don't even know how I am writing this blog, lol!
Okay, I know you guys don't want to hear me complain about my bad weekend because y'all are stressed too, so let's get talking about this course. Okay so first, I am so glad that we finished the M&Ms stimulation; I was stressed over it because it was worth alot of points! But, thankfully, I did so well on it, and I am very happy about that.
Second, tonight is the infected men's panel, and I am excited to go and possibly meet some of you guys face to face! I know that I am going to learn so much tonight. It's different when you hear the story from the real people, you know? the people we always think and talk about in this course. I really wanted to take my mother with me because she believes that they are "bad" people and we should stay away from them! I know, weird!!! Her face changed when I told her that I had to go to the panel because it's worth 100 points. Well, I had to say something like: "It's worth alot of pointes, and if I don't go I am doomed"!!! It's so sad; I hope I can change her mind about HIV and about the people living with it.
Did you know?
This week I wanted to tell you guys about an organization that's dedicated to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma. This organization is called the International Planned Parenthood Federation, IPPF. This organization involves HIV positive people in a questionnaire in order to give them a chance to talk out and have their voices heard. I think it's really good that someone out there is trying to reduce the stigma that HIV/AIDS people live with. I hope it opens our eyes and helps us realize that we need to let HIV/AIDS patients live normally without being discriminated against.
Reference:
"Reducing HIV-related stigma", IPPF (2009). Retrieved November 18, 2009, from http://www.ippf.org/en/What-we-do/AIDS+and+HIV/Stigma+reduction.htm
Oh God, my weekend was CRAZY!!! I was moving to a new house and had to pack, unpack, clean, and aggghhhhhhh so BUSY! And to make it all worse, my internet is down, and it won't be fixed before Monday! I am so tired; I don't even know how I am writing this blog, lol!
Okay, I know you guys don't want to hear me complain about my bad weekend because y'all are stressed too, so let's get talking about this course. Okay so first, I am so glad that we finished the M&Ms stimulation; I was stressed over it because it was worth alot of points! But, thankfully, I did so well on it, and I am very happy about that.
Second, tonight is the infected men's panel, and I am excited to go and possibly meet some of you guys face to face! I know that I am going to learn so much tonight. It's different when you hear the story from the real people, you know? the people we always think and talk about in this course. I really wanted to take my mother with me because she believes that they are "bad" people and we should stay away from them! I know, weird!!! Her face changed when I told her that I had to go to the panel because it's worth 100 points. Well, I had to say something like: "It's worth alot of pointes, and if I don't go I am doomed"!!! It's so sad; I hope I can change her mind about HIV and about the people living with it.
Did you know?
This week I wanted to tell you guys about an organization that's dedicated to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma. This organization is called the International Planned Parenthood Federation, IPPF. This organization involves HIV positive people in a questionnaire in order to give them a chance to talk out and have their voices heard. I think it's really good that someone out there is trying to reduce the stigma that HIV/AIDS people live with. I hope it opens our eyes and helps us realize that we need to let HIV/AIDS patients live normally without being discriminated against.
Reference:
"Reducing HIV-related stigma", IPPF (2009). Retrieved November 18, 2009, from http://www.ippf.org/en/What-we-do/AIDS+and+HIV/Stigma+reduction.htm
One week of learning
Hey everyone,
This week has been a stressful one so far and today especially wasn't a good one! I just heard about the bomb threat in UCF, my sister and friend were stuck there for three hours waiting on their cars because both garages (H and A) were closed! It's really sad to know that we're not even safe in our school anymore!
Anyways, let me tell you guys about how much I liked the M&Ms Project; I think it was a very different assignment and a great idea that brought me closer in realizing what it is really like to be living with HIV and managing 20 pills a day and suffering from their side effects! I don't know about you guys, but I had a hard time remembering all 20 pills everyday. I also chocked on the big M&M with peanuts! That was no fun. I can only imagine how hard it is to have to go through that for the rest of my life, not just seven days like we had to for this class!
I am going to attend the Men's Panel on the 18th of this month and I am excited to go and meet people who actually know what it's like to live with HIV. I also watched the movie Philadelphia for the extra credit assignment and it was a really good one that showed how to characters fought for the right for a HIV+ person to live a normal life just like everyone else. This actually brings me to the QOTW; I really think having a discriminating law against HIV+ people enforced in the U.S is the worst idea ever! I believe that it's everyone's right to live a normal life with full freedom regardless of their health issues. After all, this is a free country!!!
Did you know?
According to NewKerala.com, a study in David Geffen School of Medicine and University of California Los Angeles, showed that HIV positive people who experience stigma have less access to healthcare and are less adherent to Antiretroviral Therapy than the ones who are not stigmatized!
"We were surprised to find that in our models, experiencing high levels of internalised HIV stigma was one of the strongest predictors of poor access to medical care, even after controlling for gender, race and ethnicity, income, insurance, since HIV diagnosis," said lead study investigator Jennifer Sayles, assistant professor of medicine at the DGSM.
Reference:
Fear of stigma likely to cut off HIV patients from healthcare. Retrieved November 11, 2009, from http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-135817.html
Learning more and more...
Hey y’all,
This is actually my first time working on the blog ahead of time, so I feel good about myself for that.
Anyway, last week I was going over module 5 when I realized that people are still so freaking ignorant!!!! Can you guys believe that people, out there on the streets, think that they’re too “cool” to get HIV/AIDS???!!! My mouth just dropped open when I read the slide. I just find it hard to believe that people in the 21st century can think that way. I know that not everyone thinks that way, but just knowing that someone out there thinks that he/she is too cool for the disease is SHOCKING! However, I learned a great deal this past week from the three modules. I found the information very helpful for me and for people around me because I certainly will not keep it from them when I know they can be benefited BIG TIME.
Another interesting thing was the question of the week. Unlike previous questions, where we had to involve our emotions when answering, this question was based on logical information. Do we want to continue testing on chimps, or testing on us? Very tough to answer!! But, I had to go with testing the chimps; less danger to humans!
This is actually my first time working on the blog ahead of time, so I feel good about myself for that.
Anyway, last week I was going over module 5 when I realized that people are still so freaking ignorant!!!! Can you guys believe that people, out there on the streets, think that they’re too “cool” to get HIV/AIDS???!!! My mouth just dropped open when I read the slide. I just find it hard to believe that people in the 21st century can think that way. I know that not everyone thinks that way, but just knowing that someone out there thinks that he/she is too cool for the disease is SHOCKING! However, I learned a great deal this past week from the three modules. I found the information very helpful for me and for people around me because I certainly will not keep it from them when I know they can be benefited BIG TIME.
Another interesting thing was the question of the week. Unlike previous questions, where we had to involve our emotions when answering, this question was based on logical information. Do we want to continue testing on chimps, or testing on us? Very tough to answer!! But, I had to go with testing the chimps; less danger to humans!
DID YOU KNOW?
In UK, six cases of discrimination against HIV children in schools have been noted! Also, release of health status to teachers, parents, and students have been forced. In one case, a student found out that she's HIV positive from her teacher; she was later bullied by everyone in her school!!!! Horrible, I know. How could someone do that to a child? Also, the National Aid Trust discovered that two students were forced to leave school because they were being bullied after revealing their HIV status. I just wonder where is the Disability Discrimination Act? Where is the government? How can they let the little ones handle so much?
Reference:
Thornton, J. (2008). HIV children turned away from schools. Retrieved November 01, 2009, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jul/13/schools.uk
Blog # 8
Hey everyone,After this week's question of the week, I thought I should do a little research on HIV/AIDS and children, and how it affects them. So I found out that thousands of kids aroung the world get HIV every year, and they end up dying of AIDS! (AVERT, 2009). According to the same source, a study showed that in 2007, 2 million kids were infected around the world! And that every year, 370,000 kids are newly infected! This is unbelievable. How can those children be left to die? Every time I look at those statistics, I feel so angry and scared that we don't have a cure for this killer yet. What if the scenario in the QOTW did really apply to my child? How will I deal with that? Will I ever be able to make my child feel normal like all the other kids??!! Please watch the video I posted to get the feeling.
Did you know that?
An HIV stigma study in Zambia showed that children with HIV/AIDS are discriminated against by their families, communities, and society. HIV stigma against children takes many forms; "
Children may be blamed for their parents’ death, children may be excluded from school, from families and from communities because of fear of infection if there is HIV in their family; Orphans are often treated differently from other children in families and accused of carrying on their parents bad behavior"!!!! (AED)
Reference:
AVERT (2009). HIV and AIDS descrimination and stigma. Retrieved October28, 2009, from http://www.avert.org/aidsstigma.htm
AED (NA). Understanding and Challenging HIV Stigma. Retrieved October 28, 2009, from http://www.changeproject.org/technical/hivaids/stigma.html
More knowladge everyday!
Hey everyone,
Oh, I'm sooooooo glad that we don't have anything due for this week, its just great to have one less thing to worry about! I'm pretty sure everyone agrees with me, right? :D
So, I've spent this week trying to get my computer to work, I was worried about missing the QOTW and the blog post for this week, but I got it to work so, fhewwwww....
Okay, now let's talk about our class. This week's question of the week was so complicated and so hard to answer. I have no idea what I will actually do if I was put in that situation. It's so tough. Even if I'm the one in need of the kidney, I don't think I would want that kidney even if I was dying in three days!!!! It really got me thinking about what I will actually do if I am faced with that situation, and if or not I would donate my kidney to my sister. Now, for those of you who read my old posts, you'd rememeber me telling you about my sister refusing to help the "bleeding lady" on the road because she is scared of contracting the disease; can you just imagine how she would react if she found out that she needed an HIV+ person's kidney???!!! Oh God, I can only imagine! But again, it's a really tough situation and tougher decision. I pray to God so hard not to put me in that kind of situation, I really do.
I just checked the responses I got to my answer, and Oh God, everyone's upset about it. I don't know, but I just don't think that giving my infected kidney or recieving one is that easy to decide. Don't get me wrong, we all learned alot of stuff in this course, but still.. The way you learn to deal with the issue, and how you ACTUALLY deal with it are two different things. I am not ignorant about the disease, but I still feel that it's just so hard. We always talk so much about prevention and protection, but when you say you're willing to get an infected organ, it's like BOOOOOOOM, what have we been talking about?????? Oh well, no hard feelings fellow bloggers :P
DID YOU KNOW?
I've been talking so much about HIV/AIDS stigma in general, but today I've decided to research stigma in U.S preisons, and see how the issue is dealt with.
According to the article "AIDS stigma among inmates and staff in a USA state prison", AIDS stigma among prison inmates and staff rises due to negative attitudes toward the disease and its transmission, and also, because of negative attitudes toward homosexuality. In the same aritcle, inmates and staff said that stigma in prison became a barrier for testing; everyone is scared to be treated differently if they test positive. However, this is not the case among African American inmates and staff, who appear to lack that negative way of thinking about the disease! I wonder why, maybe because they've been hit with the disease badly, which made them learn about it and improved their attitudes toward the issue!
Reference: Derlega, V. Winstead, B. & Brockington, J. (2008). AIDS stigma among inmates and staff in a USA state prison. Retrieved October, 21, 2009, from http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=20332675
HIV confidentiality
Hi everyone,
I want to start off by talking about this week's question of the week. I must admit that I had no clue what I'm going to do if I was in that particular situation, in which my child will be exposed to HIV!!! I am still not sure if the answer I gave is the actual answer! It's just that when I think about it I get really scared for my kid. When we were asked if we were going to help an HIV woman, I didn't hesitate to answer yes, but when it comes to my child, it's a bit harder to decide... Is it just me, or are you guys confused as well??? I know, I know, Kids are kids and they have the right to be, and I shouldn't discriminate against HIV children, but like I said, it's tough.
I still didn't get my HIV test results back, two more days before I do. I really haven't thought about what the results will be, and I just don't care because I know I am not at risk ;) I just can't wait to get the results, write up the report, and not have anything to do for a whole week!!! I am so excited:)
Did you know?
For this week's add on, I chose to research the French laws concerning HIV confidentiality and I found out that France has its own mandatory AIDS reporting system that was created in 1986? The system was developed to monitor the progress of the epidemic and to help decrease the number of cases in the country. France has also created a mandatory reporting system for HIV in March 2003 in which positive tests done in public testing sites must be identified.
The following is a diagram representing the process of identification in France:
I want to start off by talking about this week's question of the week. I must admit that I had no clue what I'm going to do if I was in that particular situation, in which my child will be exposed to HIV!!! I am still not sure if the answer I gave is the actual answer! It's just that when I think about it I get really scared for my kid. When we were asked if we were going to help an HIV woman, I didn't hesitate to answer yes, but when it comes to my child, it's a bit harder to decide... Is it just me, or are you guys confused as well??? I know, I know, Kids are kids and they have the right to be, and I shouldn't discriminate against HIV children, but like I said, it's tough.
I still didn't get my HIV test results back, two more days before I do. I really haven't thought about what the results will be, and I just don't care because I know I am not at risk ;) I just can't wait to get the results, write up the report, and not have anything to do for a whole week!!! I am so excited:)
Did you know?
For this week's add on, I chose to research the French laws concerning HIV confidentiality and I found out that France has its own mandatory AIDS reporting system that was created in 1986? The system was developed to monitor the progress of the epidemic and to help decrease the number of cases in the country. France has also created a mandatory reporting system for HIV in March 2003 in which positive tests done in public testing sites must be identified.
The following is a diagram representing the process of identification in France:
Reference:
Lot F, Semaille C, Cazein F, Barin F, Pinget R, Pillonel J, Desenclos JC. Preliminary results from the new HIV surveillance system in France. Euro Surveill. (2004). Retrieved October 14, 2009, from http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=481
Will we help them?
Hello fellow bloggers,
It’s been a busy week! Can’t wait till Friday :)
I want to say that this week’s QOTW got me thinking real hard on how I will react if I was needed to help a bleeding HIV patient. I must say it was tough to actually imagine being in that situation. However, I know that I will not hesitate giving someone a helping hand just because I am afraid of contracting a disease. After I posted my answer, I thought about asking someone close to me this question, and put them in the same situation. So, I asked my sister what she will do, and I was shocked to hear her response. This is exactly what she said: “Noor, no one can care for another more than caring for themselves. I will not touch the 23-years old lady, I will drive home and call for help, but I will not actually risk my own safety”!!!!
It was horrible to hear that, and I tried so hard to argue with her about it, but it wasn’t working… When I gave it more thought, I realized that my sister is not the only one who’s “Terrified” of being near someone with HIV. There are a lot of people out there who know so little and fear so much. And it’s worse because we can’t stop them from thinking that, we can only watch HIV patients being discriminated against, even when they need help, people will still not help them. Ahhhhhhhhhh!
Anyway, I am starting to get worried about assignment 4 because I have two more movies to watch and I feel like I’m running out of time. Last Friday, I dragged my friend with me to the library and we watched the Silver Lake Life movie. Oh man, she cried her eyes out when one of the guys died; you could hear her crying, IN THE LIBRARY!!! I felt so bad for the guy and seeing his lover taping him while he was being carried away, wow, it bring tears to my eyes as I’m typing. Life is so unfair!
DID YOU KNOW???
Just like every week, I was doing some research about stigma and HIV/AIDS when I found out information about how stigma affects women with HIV. According to the South African Medical Research Council, in Africa, women are looked at differently and they’re usually disadvantaged culturally and economically. They are not excused for their behavior that resulted in their infection while men are excused. Also, women are still thought to be the reason for all the sexually transmitted disease, and don’t receive the proper medical help HIV positive males recieve. A scary but realistic fact.
Reference: Visser, P. (2007). HIV/AIDS Stigma, South Africa Medical Research Council. retrieved October 07, 2009, from http://www.mrc.ac.za/public/facts17.htm
It’s been a busy week! Can’t wait till Friday :)
I want to say that this week’s QOTW got me thinking real hard on how I will react if I was needed to help a bleeding HIV patient. I must say it was tough to actually imagine being in that situation. However, I know that I will not hesitate giving someone a helping hand just because I am afraid of contracting a disease. After I posted my answer, I thought about asking someone close to me this question, and put them in the same situation. So, I asked my sister what she will do, and I was shocked to hear her response. This is exactly what she said: “Noor, no one can care for another more than caring for themselves. I will not touch the 23-years old lady, I will drive home and call for help, but I will not actually risk my own safety”!!!!
It was horrible to hear that, and I tried so hard to argue with her about it, but it wasn’t working… When I gave it more thought, I realized that my sister is not the only one who’s “Terrified” of being near someone with HIV. There are a lot of people out there who know so little and fear so much. And it’s worse because we can’t stop them from thinking that, we can only watch HIV patients being discriminated against, even when they need help, people will still not help them. Ahhhhhhhhhh!
Anyway, I am starting to get worried about assignment 4 because I have two more movies to watch and I feel like I’m running out of time. Last Friday, I dragged my friend with me to the library and we watched the Silver Lake Life movie. Oh man, she cried her eyes out when one of the guys died; you could hear her crying, IN THE LIBRARY!!! I felt so bad for the guy and seeing his lover taping him while he was being carried away, wow, it bring tears to my eyes as I’m typing. Life is so unfair!
DID YOU KNOW???
Just like every week, I was doing some research about stigma and HIV/AIDS when I found out information about how stigma affects women with HIV. According to the South African Medical Research Council, in Africa, women are looked at differently and they’re usually disadvantaged culturally and economically. They are not excused for their behavior that resulted in their infection while men are excused. Also, women are still thought to be the reason for all the sexually transmitted disease, and don’t receive the proper medical help HIV positive males recieve. A scary but realistic fact.
Reference: Visser, P. (2007). HIV/AIDS Stigma, South Africa Medical Research Council. retrieved October 07, 2009, from http://www.mrc.ac.za/public/facts17.htm
Just sharing...
Hello everyone,
First, I just want to say that I was very happy with my book report grade :) I got a 296/300, which I think is impressive. No, not because I am lazy, but because I am one of those people who love reading but hate writing about what they read!!! I hope y’all did good and got what you where looking for.
As I said in my last blog, I started watching the assigned movies for assignment 4. The first movie that I watched was “And the Band Played On” and oh my God, I LOVED IT… It was by far the most amazing educational movie EVER!! I know I said that in the student discussion before but I just have to make sure everyone watches it, lol. I just loved how the AIDS topic was presented in the movie and how hard doctors had to work to identify the virus.
“Why did this happen? You’re a doctor, how you don’t know?” This line was said in the beginning of the movie by a little boy who lost his family to a mysterious disease that was later identified as the Ebola Fever. This quote reminded me of myself, because I never put so much thought into the struggle and the confusion doctors have to go through when they’re faced with a new disease. But when I was watching the movie, I realized that even doctors get confused, struggle, and argue with each other in order to identify a virus and help the rest of us. This movie really changed the way I think about illness and how much it takes to identify it. So now, I don’t think that doctors have to know what happened, because they’re humans too and they are limited, just like the rest of us.
I also watched the movie "Philadelphia" and it was another nice movie discussing the discrimination agianst Homosexuals who have AIDS. it talked about a successful lawyer who was fired when his boss found out about his sexual orientation. It is this movie that made me decide to discuss stigma against homosexuals who have AIDS in my DID YOU KNOW?
So.....
DID YOU KNOW?
Okay what I am going to mention is not related directly to HIV/AIDS, but I heard this in the movie “And the Band Played On”. Did you guys know that in 1981 there was a straight press and a gay press?????!!!!!!!!
When I heard that I was like “Oh my God, that’s impossible”, like seriously!!! Do homosexuals and heterosexuals watch different news??? Does your sexual orientation effect what kind of news you like to watch??? If they both live in the same country, then why different presses????? I was just shocked to hear that. It reminded me of the “white” vs. “black”. I’m so glad that we don’t have that anymore, hopefully.
Also, did you guys know that AIDS was first called the “Gay-related immune deficiency” or GRID? But then it got renamed by Dr. Voeller.
This made me want to know more about the stigma against homosexuals who have AIDS. So I went online and did some research and found out that during the 1997, a survey was conducted and participants were asked what they think about when they hear the word AIDS. Guess what the answer was? 53% said that they think of homosexuals when they hear the word AIDS! Very shocking; I mean even after proving that AIDS is not gay-related, people still link it to homosexuality!
Reference: Capitanio, J & Herek, G. (1999). Aids Stigma and Sexual Prejudice. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/abs99_sp.pdf
First, I just want to say that I was very happy with my book report grade :) I got a 296/300, which I think is impressive. No, not because I am lazy, but because I am one of those people who love reading but hate writing about what they read!!! I hope y’all did good and got what you where looking for.
As I said in my last blog, I started watching the assigned movies for assignment 4. The first movie that I watched was “And the Band Played On” and oh my God, I LOVED IT… It was by far the most amazing educational movie EVER!! I know I said that in the student discussion before but I just have to make sure everyone watches it, lol. I just loved how the AIDS topic was presented in the movie and how hard doctors had to work to identify the virus.
“Why did this happen? You’re a doctor, how you don’t know?” This line was said in the beginning of the movie by a little boy who lost his family to a mysterious disease that was later identified as the Ebola Fever. This quote reminded me of myself, because I never put so much thought into the struggle and the confusion doctors have to go through when they’re faced with a new disease. But when I was watching the movie, I realized that even doctors get confused, struggle, and argue with each other in order to identify a virus and help the rest of us. This movie really changed the way I think about illness and how much it takes to identify it. So now, I don’t think that doctors have to know what happened, because they’re humans too and they are limited, just like the rest of us.
I also watched the movie "Philadelphia" and it was another nice movie discussing the discrimination agianst Homosexuals who have AIDS. it talked about a successful lawyer who was fired when his boss found out about his sexual orientation. It is this movie that made me decide to discuss stigma against homosexuals who have AIDS in my DID YOU KNOW?
So.....
DID YOU KNOW?
Okay what I am going to mention is not related directly to HIV/AIDS, but I heard this in the movie “And the Band Played On”. Did you guys know that in 1981 there was a straight press and a gay press?????!!!!!!!!
When I heard that I was like “Oh my God, that’s impossible”, like seriously!!! Do homosexuals and heterosexuals watch different news??? Does your sexual orientation effect what kind of news you like to watch??? If they both live in the same country, then why different presses????? I was just shocked to hear that. It reminded me of the “white” vs. “black”. I’m so glad that we don’t have that anymore, hopefully.
Also, did you guys know that AIDS was first called the “Gay-related immune deficiency” or GRID? But then it got renamed by Dr. Voeller.
This made me want to know more about the stigma against homosexuals who have AIDS. So I went online and did some research and found out that during the 1997, a survey was conducted and participants were asked what they think about when they hear the word AIDS. Guess what the answer was? 53% said that they think of homosexuals when they hear the word AIDS! Very shocking; I mean even after proving that AIDS is not gay-related, people still link it to homosexuality!
Reference: Capitanio, J & Herek, G. (1999). Aids Stigma and Sexual Prejudice. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/abs99_sp.pdf
Fifth Week of School
Hello bloggers,
HORRAY...I finally finished reading "At Risk"!!! It was such a great book, I enjoyed it to the last page where it ended beautifully, and left me to my thoughts.
I am going to the library this Friday to watch the assigned movies that we have to watch and start writing the report on each one of them. I also need to go get my HIV testing done because it's almost time to do module three.
I don't know about you guys but I loved module 2 last week. It was full of helpful and interesting information about our bodies and how the disease takes control of us! Completely LOVED it.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that a research study conducted in the University of California showed that between1991 and 1997 there was an increase in the percentage of people who said that AIDS patients deserve their illness!
"In 1999, 41% believed they could get AIDS from using public toilets, compared to 34% in 1991. And 50% of those surveyed in 1999 believed that they could get AIDS from being coughed on by a person with AIDS, compared to 46% in 1991."
Reference: Herek, G. (2002). American Public Increasingly Blames People With AIDS and Misunderstands How HIV Is Transmitted. Retrieved September 23, 2009, from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/stigma_02_press.html
HORRAY...I finally finished reading "At Risk"!!! It was such a great book, I enjoyed it to the last page where it ended beautifully, and left me to my thoughts.
I am going to the library this Friday to watch the assigned movies that we have to watch and start writing the report on each one of them. I also need to go get my HIV testing done because it's almost time to do module three.
I don't know about you guys but I loved module 2 last week. It was full of helpful and interesting information about our bodies and how the disease takes control of us! Completely LOVED it.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that a research study conducted in the University of California showed that between1991 and 1997 there was an increase in the percentage of people who said that AIDS patients deserve their illness!
"In 1999, 41% believed they could get AIDS from using public toilets, compared to 34% in 1991. And 50% of those surveyed in 1999 believed that they could get AIDS from being coughed on by a person with AIDS, compared to 46% in 1991."
Reference: Herek, G. (2002). American Public Increasingly Blames People With AIDS and Misunderstands How HIV Is Transmitted. Retrieved September 23, 2009, from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/stigma_02_press.html
Immunology
Hello everyone,
I spent my weekend studying for my Immunology test on Tuesday. Like many people, I was slacking off reading the assigned chapters every week, so I didn't know what the teacher was talking about those past three weeks. However, I had to learn all the material before the test. I was really interested to learn all the different parts and cells (T cells, B cells, NK cells) of our immune system and how it all functions together. It actually helped me understand how the HIV virus works its way through our system and how it can replicate and multiply and kill the immune system. After All, science is very interesting :)
A funny incident happened to me last week on Thursday; I was in my immunology lab, and I was about to give a presentation with a group when one student just walked up to the group and asked who Noor Altiti is, and when I said it was me she said that she's taking this class and that she has seen my name alot that she remembered it. We got to talk about the class and our progress in it. Who knows maybe now that I have mentioned all of this, I will get to meet more students that are with me in both classes :)
Okay, now back to the course. I have chosen an International Organization that's based in the UK. This Organization is called AVERT and was started in the 1986. I liked their theme; "AVERTING HIV & AIDS". This organization is a HIV/AIDS charity that helps HIV patients with care and treatment. This organization is involved in many prjects, such as Sisonke in South Africa, Partners in Hope Project in Malawi, and The Rural Welfare Organisation in India. The purpose of all those projects is to be inform people about the disease, and seek better counceling, care, and treatment to HIV/AIDS patients all around the world.
I am almost done with reading “At risk”; a book by Alice Hoffman. This book is very interesting; I am enjoying every detail in it. It somehow makes me take a closer look at HIV/AIDS and how it can change someone’s life completely and forever. Every time I read it I get carried away thinking that it can really happen to anyone and everyone. It doesn’t discriminate, but it’s discriminated against. Just like the girl in the book wondered if they’ll find the cure before it is too late; I wonder the same.
Will they?
Immunity against AIDS!
Today, I was thinking about something to share with all of you, and I came across this article "Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered". According to the article, scientists and researchers are going back in history in hopes to find the reason why there were always 'lucky' people who never got infected with the virus, although they were exposed to it many times. Researchers believe this is due to resistance and virtual immunity to the disease.
Researchers discovered that this immunity has to do with a pair of mutated genes, one found in each chromosome. These mutated genes play a role in preventing the body from creating the receptor (CCR5 receptor) that allows the AIDS virus from breaking into the cells. However, this protection against the virus is genetic, which means that for a person to be immune, he/she have to inherit the mutated genes from one of the parents. If the genes are inherited from both parents, stronger immunity is developed against the virus.
Reference: Dotinga, R. (2005). Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered. retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2005/01/66198
Researchers discovered that this immunity has to do with a pair of mutated genes, one found in each chromosome. These mutated genes play a role in preventing the body from creating the receptor (CCR5 receptor) that allows the AIDS virus from breaking into the cells. However, this protection against the virus is genetic, which means that for a person to be immune, he/she have to inherit the mutated genes from one of the parents. If the genes are inherited from both parents, stronger immunity is developed against the virus.
Reference: Dotinga, R. (2005). Genetic HIV Resistance Deciphered. retrieved September 9, 2009, from http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2005/01/66198
First Post
Hello everyone,
Well, this is my first post in my blog. I am actually excited to work on this.First, I was upset because I didn't get my first choice, which was pen pal e-mailing, but now I feel like this is going to work out better. I am a visual person, so finding good templates, fonts, and all that stuff is fun for me. It's one of those fun things everyone likes to work on; blogging, socializing. I think this is going to be almost as fun as facebooking ;).. Right now I am going to tell everyone a little about myself.
My name is Noor Altiti; I am 19 years old, a junior in UCF. I am majoring in Biology and Forensics. I went to Valencia Community College. I want to become a doctor, but I still haven't decided what I'm going to specialize in! So far, this class has been very interesting, the simulation assignments that we had to do last week helped me learn more about what HIV + people go through, and I'm hoping to learn more about the disease and play a role in helping others understand it as well.
My name is Noor Altiti; I am 19 years old, a junior in UCF. I am majoring in Biology and Forensics. I went to Valencia Community College. I want to become a doctor, but I still haven't decided what I'm going to specialize in! So far, this class has been very interesting, the simulation assignments that we had to do last week helped me learn more about what HIV + people go through, and I'm hoping to learn more about the disease and play a role in helping others understand it as well.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
