As of August 2010, the number of reported cases of people living with HIV/AIDS reached 5, 742. Making the record of 2-3 new cases each day, and it is alarming that in all part of the world there are new cases each day that reaches almost 70, 000. The issue of HIV/AIDS falls on the UN Millennium Development Goal number 6 which is combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases that hinder the campaign of UN to end poverty. In connection of HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS, the United Nation Joint Project for AIDS created an online campaign called Prevention Revolution. This is there way to utilize social networks and the internet to reach out to all in the cyberspace on what we call revolutionized awareness. The youth who is mostly vulnerable to have the virus because of the exposure on casual sex and drugs, UNAIDS wanted to inform them the risk of involving themselves to these kinds of activities.
Like in all my HIV/AIDS related post, people living with AIDS is considered as modern lepers by others who doesn’t know the right information or proper awareness. The virus can only be transferred through unsafe sex, sharing needles or syringe, blood transfusion and breast feeding that involves an infected mother to a child. There are ABCDE to prevent the spread of virus; A – Abstinence, B – Be Faithful, C- Condom use, D – Don’t share needles, and E – Education. Among the five choices, I can still say the most important is education. The proper guidance of the youth in particular to enlighten them and be responsible. The youth has the larger portion in the population of people living with AIDS because of being risk takers which lacks responsibility, most were men and portion is those having same sex affair.
Education also leads to understanding. That is why I am one of those with UNAIDS calling of lifting travel restriction to people living with AIDS in there country. There are 52 countries has this travel restriction. In the 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union last March 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand, UNAIDS appealed to the remaining 52 countries that have oppressive travel restrictions against people with AIDS, to lift these conditions. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS challenges the leaders to encourage their legislators in creating a law that will safeguard the rights and welfare of people living with AIDS.
Go out and be tested. This is one of my challenge to all to go out and be tested especially those who are in doubt. The test is confidential. There are two options, if found positive they will undergo counseling and medical help and if found negative this will make them more responsible next time. For HIV/AIDS testing you can visit Social Hygiene Clinic - Manila Health Department, 2nd Floor of 208 Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, for inquiries contact for inquiries, call 711-6942 and look for Dra. Diana Mendoza or Ms. Malou Tan, Monday to Friday only from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Or you can call Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) at 7438301 local 2553 for counseling. Some of the accredited HIV/AIDS treatment hubs include Philippine General Hospital (PGH - contact number 5218450), San Lazaro Hospital (SLH - contact number 7408301 local 6000), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM - contact number 8072628 local 801). For other AIDS Hotline you can call; Lunduyan Foundation INC (4214953), Pinoy Plus Association INC (5244507), Remedios AIDS Foundation INC (5240924), and Positive Action Foundation Philippines INC (8326239).
The Prevention Revolution doesn’t start and end on World AIDS Day, instead the campaign for education and awareness and to be responsible should be taken each day. Let’s spread the awareness and not the virus!
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