Own Time Own Target

1st December is World Aids Day

Do you still think that Aids is a disease that homosexuals get?


Do you still think that you are safe becos
- the girl is too young to have aids
- the guy looks clean?
- you've know your current mate for a long time?
- you won't get aids becos you won't be so unlucky?
- YOU are too young to get aids?
- you've always been healthy?



STOP



Aids is not a disease that only homosexuals get. True, male homosexuals as a group is over-represented in the people afflicted with HIV/ aids, but more heterosexuals are being afflicted, from casual affairs, from prostitutional encounters, between committed partners, between spouses, from mother to child.


Is absolute total abstinence the only way to prevent the spread? No. It is the preferred message from religion and morality groups, but to say that this is the only way is to ignore the reality of teen sex, premarital sex, casual sex.


And worst still, tarnishing all with a broad stroke that one has aids because of their personal choice in undesirable activities, what about pp who became infected because of tainted blooded, from blood transfusion by selling blood or receiving tainted blood in operations? Not every person with HIV/ Aids is a drug user or homosexual or a prostitute. And even these people do not deserve the judgement and bias against them.


Medical screening in reputable hospitals and blood centers have virtually reduced all the possibilities of being infected by giving/ receiving blood.


But people are still infected by having unprotected sex and tainted needles/ stringes. Am I advocating casual sex and drug use? NO. But you can't stop EVERYBODY from having casual sex or using drugs. Do you simply let them be infected, spread the virus ever more and let them all DIE?





NO.

Educate them.





USE A CONDOM. USE A CLEAN NEEDLE AND STRINGE



A condom prevents 98% of all sexually transmitted diseases, including the HIV virus.

Thank goodness that the Singapore Government has, for the first time, came out with a clear message that acknowledges that the total abstinence message is the only way.


Ignorance Kills

It kills you if you do not know the facts, and it kills you if you have unprotected sex with someone who is HIV positive/ has Aids.

How is HIV transmitted?
- A person who has HIV carries the virus in certain body fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. The virus can be transmitted only if such HIV-infected fluids enter the bloodstream of another person. This kind of direct entry can occur (1) through the linings of the vagina, rectum, mouth, and the opening at the tip of the penis; (2) through intravenous injection with a syringe; or (3) through a break in the skin, such as a cut or sore. Usually, HIV is transmitted through:

1) Unprotected sexual intercourse (either vaginal or anal) with someone who has HIV. Women are at greater risk of HIV infection through vaginal sex than men, although the virus can also be transmitted from women to men. Anal sex (whether male-male or male-female) poses a high risk mainly to the receptive partner, because the lining of the anus and rectum is extremely thin and is filled with small blood vessels that can be easily injured during intercourse.

2) Unprotected oral sex with someone who has HIV . There are far fewer cases of HIV transmission attributed to oral sex than to either vaginal or anal intercourse, but oral-genital contact poses a clear risk of HIV infection, particularly when ejaculation occurs in the mouth. This risk goes up when either partner has cuts or sores, such as those caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), recent tooth-brushing, or canker sores, which can allow the virus to enter the bloodstream.

- Sharing needles or syringes with someone who is HIV infected. Laboratory studies show that infectious HIV can survive in used syringes for a month or more. That's why people who inject drugs should
never reuse or share syringes, water, or drug preparation equipment. This includes needles or syringes used to inject illegal drugs such as heroin, as well as steroids. Other types of needles, such as those used for body piercing and tattoos, can also carry HIV.

- Infection during pregnancy, childbirth, or breast-feeding
(mother-to-infant transmission). Any woman who is pregnant or considering becoming pregnant and thinks she may have been exposed to HIV-even if the exposure occurred years ago-should seek testing and counseling. In the Singapore, it is now compulsory to test pregnant women for HIV. Those who test positive can get drugs to prevent HIV from being passed on to a fetus or infant, and they are counseled not to breast-feed

How is HIV NOT Transmitted?

- It is not transmitted through food or air (for instance, by coughing
or sneezing).
- There has never been a case where a person was infected by a household member, relative, co-worker, or friend through casual or everyday contact such as sharing eating utensils or bathroom facilities, or through hugging or kissing. (Most scientists agree that while HIV transmission through deep or prolonged "French" kissing may be possible, it would be extremely unlikely.)
- You cannot get HIV from giving blood at a blood bank or other established blood collection center.
- Sweat, tears, vomit, feces, and urine do contain HIV, but have not been
reported to transmit the disease (apart from two cases involving transmission from fecal matter via cut skin).
- Mosquitoes, fleas, and other insects do not transmit HIV.

Be kind. Be aware.



Go on, learn more about aids from the following links

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