Course Growth....

Each and every week I find myself growing into a stronger and better person in life. I have to thank this class for most of my personal growth because I've learned how to have compassion on others, through this class. Two weeks ago I told you all about my friend who has found out that she is now HIV positive. Last weekend my friend asked me if I would like to join her as she gave her parents the news of her diagnosis.

As I had previously promised my friend, I told her I'd be there with her whenever she needed me. As we drove to her parent's home she was very nervous about how they would conceive her and how they would now treat her. Sitting in her livingroom, she began to cry so hard, her parents knew something was wrong with her. She finally managed to tell her parents she was HIV positive. Much to my surprise. Her parent's reacted just as we hoped they wouldn't. Her mom began to cry, and her dad's face went sour. They began to scold her for not being responsible. Her mom began to scream at her and call her things, I could never imagine my mom ever saying to me.

It was at this point that I was able to share information I've learned in this class with her parents. I enlightened them on different support groups and how my friend could become a spokesperson and share her story with other young people. Her parent's were still a bit startled about all of the news they'd received but after I shared information with them that I'd learned from this class and by reading other's blogs...they realized it was not the end of the world for their daughter.

Did you know...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 40,049 cumulative cases of AIDS among people ages 13 to 24 through 2004 and of course these numbers are growing daily (CDC, 2005).

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, most young adults are afraid to tell their parents they are HIV positive and some even wait months after they have found out about the virus, before they tell their parents.

I believe a lot of young people fear their parent's reactions, but it is important for them to let their parent's know their situation.

This class has taught me so much, I love being able to share what I have learned and reading what others have learned as well.

Add on...10/21/09

This week while I was doing some research in order to see what I would like to use as my add-on, I found some very interesting information about NATIONAL HIV TESTING day. National HIV testing day is June 27th of each year. In 2009, more African Americans showed up for public testing than any other year (HIV Test Org, 2009).

There were many African American female celebrities who showed up to have their test done publically as well. These celebrities include: Vanessa Williams, Angie Stone, Tatyana Ali, Tyra Banks, Beyonce Knowles and many more (HIV Test Org, 2009). When reading this information I was very proud to see that this event was supported by African Americans around the world and most importantly that African American women were supporting this event.

I feel an individual should participate in taking the test as a personal decision, but it is very important for those individuals who have a lot of influence over others to stand up and be an example. By seeing the list of well-known African American women who took part in the testing made me very proud to know, that African American women are finally taking a stand and getting educated about HIV/AIDS.

Did you know...

For black women living with HIV/AIDS, the most common methods of transmission were high-risk heterosexual contact and injection drug use (CDC, 2008). I believe this fact hold true because not enough education about the virus is being spread throughout the African American communities. I do not believe this is because the resources are not available, I think African American just try to get away or dodge the situation. The truth of the matter is, because we are not getting educated on HIV/AIDS, we are the leading group of people with HIV. Let's take a stand and make a difference!

HIV Confidentiality Laws...

Confidentiality when it comes to HIV/AIDS is very important. I believe more individuals would be willing to get HIV tests, if they were more informed on the confidentiality and security provided to individuals being tested for HIV, and those who have HIV.

Many countries have passed confidentiality laws in order to protect the people of that country. South Africa like many other countries have laws that assure the patients that their personal health information will not be disclosed to others.

According to the Section 14 of the Constitution of South Africa Act, No. 108 of 1996, all individuals with HIV and AIDS as well, has the right to privacy. This means, all testing information including results or status may not be disclosed by the health professional to anyone who is not a healthcare professional. If the information is disclosed, it can only be shared with the Physician directly assigned to the individual with HIV (HIV/AIDS Policy, 2001). The disclosure of this information is considered a breach of doctor-patient confidentiality and is punishable by the medical board if reported (HIV/AIDS Policy, 2001).

I believe it is policies like this one that give us hope. If more individuals knew their personal information would not be disclosed then, more would be willing to get tested. Getting tested is the important key of successfully fight HIV/AIDS.

HIVpositive friend...

For this weeks blog, I thought it would be a good idea for me to blog about my HIV positive friend. I first spoke with my friend and ask her if it would be ok if I shared her personal story and she did agree.

About two months ago, my friend of many years found out that she was HIV positive. Much to my suprise, I was the first individual she shared the news with. We sat down the other night to discuss her personal situation, I wanted to hear her story. From the first time she told me that she was HIV positive we've never really sat down to discuss how and when she contracted the disease.

So I asked her, how long have you known you were HIV positive and she said for about 7months. She stated she did not know how to tell anyone, but she wanted to tell someone she felt would not badger her, so she told me. I was so thrilled that she felt was a good enough friend that she could tell me something of this extent.

She stated she contracted a disease from a guy she was dating for a few months. She'd decided to go and get tested just as a precaution and much to her suprise she was diagnosed as HIV positive. She was devastated. She thought it was the end of the world. She told the guy she tested positive and he too went to get tested and was positive as well. She knew she got the virus from him due to her never being with anyone else.

As she told me her story, I sat quietly and listened to every detail, because this virus was NOW real to me. I'd heard of many HIV stories before but now this virus seemed so much more personal knowing someone I've grown to love as a sister is now positive.

From this class I learned so much. It has taught me to be even more supportive for my friend. I told her that I would help her fight this virus, and win. I just wanted to share this with my fellow readers , because it is not that I have really gained a desire to learn more about the disease that way I can help my friend through this situation as well. I've grown so much personally from this class, and this has become of my most favorite classes.