I would like to respectfully make some up-to-date corrections on Helen Gow's article on AIDS (Valley Reporter,
11/26/08). The virus that causes AIDS is called HIV or Human
Immunodeficiency Virus. A person is said to be diagnosed with AIDS once
that person's T-cell count drops below a designated level, at which
point the body is greatly compromised in its ability to kill off
infection.
Once diagnosed with HIV, and given treatment with specific drugs,
survival rates are estimated at 20 years. Without treatment survival
rates are estimated to be 9 to 11 years. I must also say that I
personally know many people who have been HIV positive for over 20
years and are functioning as well as many who do not have the virus.
Two of my friends completed master's degree programs and another is in
the process of going to school for her master's while working part
time, and raising her son, age 20, who was born with the virus (HIV).
He is in college and works a full-time job and no one in his community
is aware of his illness. These success stories are to be attributed to
HAART or Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy. The sad part of the
story is that most people in the world do not have access to HAART due
to expense, politics and technicalities of distribution in many third
world countries.
Due to the limited availability of HAART, education on prevention is of utmost importance.
(1) HIV is transmitted sexually (primarily heterosexually) whether
through intercourse, anal or oral sex. Latex condoms without oil-based
lubricants have been shown to be the most effective sexual means of
prevention.
(2) HIV is transmitted from blood to blood. This means that a person
can become infected through a blood transfusion, through sharing
hypodermic needles during drug abuse, or by an unintentional needle
stick.
(3) Over 10 years ago the NIH Consensus Panel on HIV Prevention stated
that needle exchange programs for intravenous drug users (IDUs) reduced
high risk behavior by up to 80 percent and reduced acquiring HIV by as
much as 30 percent. Yet even today politics, misinformation and harsh
judgment has caused this means of prevention to be illegal in most
states and not eligible for federal funding -- this despite the fact
that intravenous drug use constitutes as much as 25 percent of the
cases of HIV.
(4) HIV is transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and
through nursing her infant. Birth control methods then become more
important than simply preventing a birth.
There is so much more to learn about HIV/AIDS. It is up to each one of
us to make sure we are educated on means of prevention as well as those
things that do not cause HIV, such as hugging, kissing, eating a meal
prepared by someone who has the virus, among other normal daily
activities.
If you need help getting info on HIV/AIDS (or hepatitis C) or if you
have the virus and want confidential free access to peer counseling you
may contact twinstatesnetwork.net.
Kremer lives in Warren
