Local HIV/AIDS Conference

I was riding a jeepney along Balibago (Angeles City) when I happened to see a banner that says about conference HIV/AIDS blah blah blah... I was curious but did not gather enough urge to get off the PUJ (Public Utility Jeepney wehehehe) and join the conference (as if haha!). Too bad I wasn't able to snap a picture (which I usually do) lest, my precious phone might get snatched by unscrupulous citizens. =D (Bad me hehe).

I've always been interested in issues regarding HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis and other communicable disease and have planned on taking Medicine back in college but poverty killed that dream! LOL! I'm still battling with it but I think success is not yet within my reach. But looking at what I have gone through in life I believe that being a winner is relative and money is not always the basis to being a winner. A lot of rich people aren't even happy with it. My dad used to tell me that happiness should always be our end goal in whatever things we do; be it in our personal lives such as in a relationship and our work, i.e. professional lives.

Well, I just hope that scientists will be able to find the cure for these diseases soon and develop a vaccine to prevent others from being infected, too. Be safe everyone!

US Government Approved $50 Billion HIV/AIDS Program

The US House of Representative have just approved the passage of the budget for the current US program on HIV/AIDS including the treatment and prevention of Malaria and Tuberculosis. The $50 Billion USD approved budget will help support the 5 year US International program in combatting the spread of HIV and other communicable diseases mentioned above.

Originally, the budget was set to $30 Million USD under George W. Bush's President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief or PEPFAR until after tough negotiations the budget rose to $50 Billion USD. This is an important step for the US government to help the world in combating the spread of HIV and provide aid for HIV positive individuals who needs treatment, to improve the quality of their lives and prevent the early onset of AIDS. Read more at VOA News.

Setting aside my personal biases against the United States, I personally believe that the US should be given proper commendation on their commitment in eradicating HIV/AIDS in the world and lending a helping hand to individuals and countries around the world who are being pulled down economically by the HIV/AIDS menace.

US Ban on HIV-Positive Individuals Under Scrutiny

The US is under fire due to the recent incident which happened due to a custom official refusing the entry of a Canadian Citizen named Martin Rooney for the sole reason that he is infected with HIV, a virus that causes AIDS.

Existing US law inhibits the entry of individuals with debilitating diseases including HIV/AIDS for entry into the United States. Mr Rooney was on his way to the United States to spend his weekend and attend the Remembrance Day last November (2007). Though honest about his intentions and transparent about his current condition, he was refused entry into the US due to that same reason and was required to secure a visa waiver and was sent back to Canada on that same date.

Democrat Senator John Kerry is now proposing a bill that would ratify the existing Immigration and Nationality Act that is preventing HIV-positive individuals from travelling to the United States for various reasons. Read more at GlobeandMail.com.

Brazil to Introduce Initiative to Curb HIV Cases

The Government of Brazil have made another plans of curbing the increasing rate of HIV cases among its people especially among men who have sex with men.

The campaign is focused on sexually active men with age ranging from 13 to 24 and educate them on safe sex and encourage them in using preventive methods in contracting sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.

It shows that more than 40 percent (41.1% to be exact) of HIV cases in 2006 are from the above age group and the number continuously rises. A study conducted by Brazil's Ministry of Health also shows that there were around 226 HIV cases per 100,000 men in Brazil to date.

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