Memory
from Phantom of the Opera
by Andew Lloyd Weber
A Circle of Light & Rev. Cassandra
want you to know about!
AIDS/HIV
Be they gay or straight;
male or female;
adult or child...
they are ALL Children of GOD!
FACTS:
Every minute, five (5) young people, age 10 to 24, around the world are infected with HIV. Report from UNAIDS April 22, 1998
More than 33.6 million people are infected with HIV worldwide and 1.2 million of them are children. AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1999 UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
An estimated nine out of every 10 HIV-positive women living in developing countries do not know they are infected.
As early as the year 2010, the global number of infants and children under 15 who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS will reach 40 million. CDC Prevention News 8/24/99
Heterosexual transmission accounts for more than 75% of all HIV infections worldwide.
Recent figures show that women, in the U.S., now account for 32% of all newly identified HIV positive cases. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vol 11, No 1. June 1999
Figures show that worldwide women now account for 44% of all the number of people living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1999 UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Worldwide, 16.3 million people have died of AIDS since the beginning of epidemic, 3.6 million of them were children under age 15. AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1999 UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Experts predict that more people will die of AIDS in the next decade than have died in all the wars of the 20th century. UNAIDS Security Council Session on AIDS Crisis- January 10, 2000 New York Times.
Worldwide, more than half of all new HIV infections acquired after infancy occur among young people 10-24 years old. AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1999 UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
This epidemic disproportionately affects children of color. In 1998, 58% of the children with AIDS in the U.S. were African American and 23% were Hispanic. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vol 11, No 1. June 1999.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AIDS?
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a life-threatening illness caused by a virus, HIV. This virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body susceptible to deadly diseases called opportunistic infections. People who "die of AIDS" actually die from the infections that prey on their weakened immune systems.
What is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. You can become infected with the virus only by direct contact with an infected person's blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk. Since there is no known cure for HIV/AIDS, preventing infection can save your life.
How does HIV spread?
HIV enters the body through direct contact with the bloodstream or through the mucous membranes (the inside of the mouth or throat, lining of the rectum or walls of the vagina). The virus can enter your skin only if the skin is broken or cut and another person's infected body fluids enter your bloodstream. HIV also can be carried from mother to child, before or after birth, or through breastfeeding.
Can you get AIDS from everyday contact with a person who has HIV or AIDS?
No. You won't get infected by casual contact with someone living with HIV/AIDS. The virus isn't transmitted through tears, saliva or sweat. You won't get infected by touching toilet seats, doorknobs or eating utensils used by someone with HIV/AIDS. And the virus isn't transmitted in the air, by sneezing or coughing.
Who can be infected with HIV?
Anyone can be infected. The virus doesn't discriminate. People of all genders, races, ages and nationalities are at risk. HIV affects heterosexuals and homosexuals, young and old, men and women. People who are HIV-positive often do not develop AIDS until many years after they become infected. That's why people who appear healthy can, without even knowing it, transmit the virus to others.
What can I do to prevent being infected?
Since the virus is transmitted by infected body fluids entering your body, the best way to prevent infection is to block that entrance. That means using condoms or dental dams during oral, anal and vaginal intercourse. You also can avoid infection by not sharing needles. People who work with or are exposed to blood should use latex gloves and other protective measures to prevent infection.
