World AIDS day

[Louisa]

A little late I know i'm sorry - but I just wanted to remind everyone about the fact it was world AIDS day on december the 1st, and I think in 2007 a lot of people seem to have forgotten how this devestating virus has destroyed lives and torn apart communities around the globe. I think it needed a mention on here, and I was wondering if anyone had any interesting contributions on the subject. Is enough being done to help third world countries? Are kids here being informed of the dangers involved in unsafe sex? Is the stigma of having the virus still continuing to isolate individuals from their families and communities? And will there ever been a final cure for the HIV virus?

Louisa.

[cdonline]

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[annaj]

cdonline

Thank you for sharing your story and your thoughts and reminding us all that HIV and AIDS are not far away and irrelevant problems that other people deal with.

I'm so sorry that you still feel stigmatised and unable to share the burden of your illness with your family. I hope that, in response to you post, the forum will show the best of itself and that here you will feel supported.

In response to Louisa's original questions: No, not enough is being done for the developing world. No, children are not getting enough factual, timely, clear information about safe sex or any other aspect of sexual health and relationships. And yes, there is still a stigma and it is at least in part perpetuated by the medical profession. I am constantly frustrated by the way that the diagnosis and treatment of HIV is handled completely differently than any other serious or life limiting illness. As medical professional I feel we have a duty to lead by example and demystify this disease and deal with it as we would any other. Why would a person living with HIV feel able to talk openly about it when doctors surround it with secrecy and euphemism?

Finally, a cure? Maybe, or at least a vaccination is a realistic possibility. Until it is a reality though, as Lousia and cdoline have already said, we have to keep fighting for awareness in whatever way we can.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

cdonline - very brave of you to share that information since unfortunately it is still often stigmatised. As a mother, I hope there is nothing my daughter could not come to me with, however awful she perceived it was and I think most parents would prefer to be able to support their children. Don't forget that shock, anger, etc usually kick in before the brain engages so discount the first reaction.

You might find it easier to write to them perhaps including some up-to-date leaflets that would help dispel their fears.

Very good luck to you - hope you feel able to share with them.

PGC

[Keef]

cdonline, this is a really personal question, so feel free not to answer it, or to tell me to piss off.

I was wondering if you are gay or straight, and if you're gay, have you told your parents that?

[lozzyloz]

I worked in Africa for a couple of years and was really saddened at the number of people I met that suffered AIDS related tragedies on a regular basis. At monthly office meetings it was normal to say a prayer for a previous member of staff that had either contracted the disease or died from related complications. The amount of effort, aid, education and resources being poured into Africa is evident all around everyday yet the biggest problem appears to be at the top levels of society and government. Although in some countries it is slowly changing, the denial or stigma attached means that very little changes at grass roots level in terms of sexual practice and the use of protection. Unfortunately it's usually women that suffer the most as there is a very high level of promiscuity and in some cases the belief that sex with a virgin will cure any disease. As a result there is also a high incidence of rape. In the developed world we are more complacent and tend to assume that with our knowledge and easy access to retroviral drugs etc that it is easily contained and a problem that only relates to certain groups. I'm so glad to see Mandela getting behind the campaign despite Mbekis reluctance and I hope for the sake of the continent more people take notice and start to act.

[cdonline]

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[Keef]

Fair play, sorry to be nosey, I just wondered if you didn't want to tell them about the HIV because you hadn't told them you were gay, but obviously not.