Tag Archives: AIDS

Zoonosis: The Origin of HIV

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Image of chimp with SIVLike I’ve said before, when you’re a sex educator, there are some questions that you come to expect. There’s not a single classroom of middle schoolers that hasn’t asked me about the origin of HIV.

Zoonosis is when a virus passes between species, and the strongest, most widely-believed theory is that SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) in monkeys became HIV in humans, probably through monkey-to-hunter transmission. Another, more recent example of zoonosis is Avian Influenza, better known as the bird flu. Remember the H1N1 vaccination public health officials were urging us to get? Animals and humans carry around lots of viruses and bacteria that do them no harm, but when transferred to another species, can have a serious impact – think tapeworms, plague, Lyme disease, rabies, etc.

I strongly encourage you to go to one of my favorite websites for HIV information, Avert.org. Avert does a really great job of discussing all of the HIV origin theories as well as a providing a history and timeline of HIV discoveries.

Happy World AIDS Day!

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Red AIDS RibbonYes, you read that correctly. Happy World AIDS Day, much like you might wish someone “Happy Birthday,” “Happy Anniversary,” etc., I wish you a Happy World AIDS Day.

To some this may sound crazy, but please allow me to explain.

Being HIV+ for the last 25 years has led me to a certain perspective on life. I do not view the world and life in general as most 48-year-old women do. My experiences are different because of HIV – not necessarily better or worse, just different. As I watch my non-HIV+ contemporaries navigate the world, there are vast differences. I see my friend’s posts on Facebook referring to children, grandchildren and retirement and I am always curious. I wonder what that would be like but they are NOT my experiences. In my world, a lot of energy goes to medications, co-pays, education and support; my focus for years was just staying alive and mourning those unable to succeed at this. Now that I have more confidence in living to enjoy wrinkles and gray hair (yikes), I focus a great deal of energy on HIV/AIDS education, helping folks LIVE with a positive diagnosis and doing everything in my power to erase the stigma attached to this disease.

Believe it or not, this focus has provided a full and rich life. Educating, speaking and mentoring others with HIV/AIDS is so rewarding that I can’t imagine my life any other way. I often wonder what it would be like to post about children and grandchildren but I truly can’t even imagine it. Instead, I reflect on what I DO have in my life and all of the joy, all of the wonderful folks and of course the experiences brought to my life because of HIV/AIDS and I have to scream from the rooftops: Happy World AIDS Day! I am grateful for this virus and the opportunity it gives me to help others. On World AIDS Day, I take time to regroup and recommit to prevention and helping others live with this virus.  I recommit to fighting the stigma and reminding the public that no one is untouched by HIV/AIDS.

My favorite holiday is not Christmas, my birthday or even Valentine’s Day. My favorite holiday is World AIDS Day, which I celebrate as a reminder that I have made it another year, a remembrance of those who have passed, and in hope that we are one step closer to a cure. Happy World AIDS Day to you!

Valerie Wojciechowicz is a certified fitness instructor and an expert speaker about living with HIV, particularly the importance of exercise in managing the disease. She has contributed to POZ Magazine and featured in HIV Positive! Magazine. A 2009 winner of the Junior League’s Women in Strength Award, she can be found at 4HIVhelp.com.

To recognize World AIDS Day, Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida is offering reduced-cost rapid HIV tests – $20 with results in 20 minutes – at its health centers today and tomorrow (days and hours vary). For more information, or to find the health center nearest you, go to MyPlannedParenthood.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN.

3 Things Everyone Can Do to Prevent HIV

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Although HIV has been a part of our lives for over 25 years, people in this country are still getting infected at about the same rate they have been for several years.  Many people still have misinformation about the virus or don’t feel they are at risk. Here are a few things everyone can do:

•    Encourage people to get tested and get tested yourself
Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida offers 3 types of HIV testing:  a rapid test (results in 20 minutes), blood draw sent to a local lab (results in 2-3 days) or the free state test (results in about 3 weeks).

•    Learn the facts about HIV so you can educate yourself and others
There are still many myths about how HIV is spread, who’s at risk, and how it’s prevented.

•    Promote condom use
Many people worry more about becoming pregnant than becoming infected with a STI. If they or their partner are using contraception, they may believe they have taken care of all their reproductive needs. If they have a same sex partner or are past childbearing years, they may figure they have nothing to worry about.

Out of all the STIs, HIV is the most difficult to catch, and it has a dramatic impact on someone’s life as well as the lives of those who love them. Despite fears of many to the contrary, a positive HIV test isn’t a death sentence; with medical attention, proper medication, and taking control of their health, someone can live a long and healthy life with HIV.

The best medication for HIV, though? Not getting the virus at all. Let’s all do our part to reduce the spread of HIV.

For the most current information on the virus, check out the CDC website on HIV.

For living with HIV, read this CDC brochure on HIV; visit MyHIVLife for tips on living a life with HIV; as well as Avert, the international HIV & AIDS charity, to answer common questions about living with HIV.