World Aids Awareness Day

Today is World's Aids Day. It is a day when we face the epidemic that a lot if people are living with and try to become more aware of what exactly is the virus and how to avoid contracting the disease and has been around since 1988. If you know anyone with the virus, I am sure you know that treating them differently or as if there an outcast is a huge NO NO! AIDS can happen to anyone of us. So what you should do and with everything else, before you develop a stigma, please educate yourself to make sure you understand it fully.

Here are a few simple facts about the HIV/AIDS virus.

• HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system
• HIV and AIDS are not necessarily the same thing. HIV is a virus that remains in the body. A person is considered to have full blown AIDS only when their immune system is so weak they can no longer fight of a range of diseases.
• The most common ways to contract HIV are through
• --> unprotected sex (without a condom) with someone who already has the virus
• -->sharing infected needles or syringes
• --> From an HIV mother during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

Red ribbons are worn as a way of showing support for people living with the virus and remembrance of those who have passed away from it. It is a very simple action that has been done for several years to challenge those with preconceived notions about HIV and AIDS.

We suggest everyone learns about the myths and what it really means to live with HIV/AIDS

Join FBG in wearing your bright RED Ribbon and show your support for those living with this disease.

SOURCE

AIDS Vaccine Maybe Closer Than We Think

Last week it was announced that there has been major strides in finding a vaccine for the HIV/ AIDS virus. The vaccine is known as RV 144 and it is a combination of two engineered vaccines, neither of which work on humans separately. Thousands of volunteers in Thailand took part in the clinical trial for over six years.The risk of being infected was cut by 31% over this time period.

Even though many of the doctors do not feel comfortable using the word "breakthrough" for this potential vaccine, it is a significant step toward bringing the rate of HIV/AIDS down dramatically. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director from the National Institute of Allergies and Infections Diseases, said that it will take several more years before a vaccine will end this virus. However, this heart wrenching beast, known as HIV/AIDS that has taken so many lives and terrorized so many people young and old now seems to finally have found a decline.

Fab Brown Girl Sidenote: Let's pray that this is legit and not a conspiracy... With the way health care is going in America, we will be lucky if those that really need the vaccine will even be able to afford it. We shall see... Personally whatever the outcome of the vaccine is, I will continue to use safe sex practices forever and always.