The Impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa

As we know, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is unbelievable! Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22.9 million people are living with HIV in the region - around two thirds of the global total. In 2010 around 1.2 million people died from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 1.9 million people became infected with HIV. Since the beginning of the epidemic 14.8 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.


Children are unable to have prosperous childhoods because of all the sickness, malnutrition and other diseases affecting their livelihood. They are denied the proper health care and have poor living conditions. Other implications are the effect on life expectancy, households, schools, productivity, and economic growth and development.


Although this deadly disease is taking a large toll on the citizens of Africa, they are looking for more prevention methods. The first one that has been put in place is promoting condom use. In sub-Saharan Africa, most countries have seen an increase in condom use in recent years. In studies carried out between 2001 and 2005, eight out of eleven countries in sub-Saharan Africa reported an increase in condom use. Another prevention method is the voluntary HIV counseling and testing. In some areas of Africa, they have mobile testing where the nurses will travel to different communities and offer testing. In South Africa, the number of people receiving HIV testing and counselling has significantly increased in recent years as a result of the governments national HIV testing campaign. However, whilst the estimated number of people receiving HIV testing and counselling in 2010 was more than 6.5 million, this is notably less than in 2009 when nearly 7 million people received testing and counselling. Across sub-Saharan Africa it is estimated that 82 tests per 1000 people were carried out in 2010. The last method that I will mention is pre-treatment for the mother-to-child transmission of HIV.Without interventions, there is a 20-45% chance that an HIV-positive mother will pass the virus on to her child. If a woman is supplied with antiretroviral drugs, however, this risk can be significantly reduced. Before these measures can be taken the mother must be aware of her HIV infection, so testing also plays a vital role in the prevention of MTCT. In 2010, preventive drugs reached 64 percent of HIV-infected pregnant women in Eastern and Southern Africa, and 18 percent in West and Central Africa, a decline on 2009 figures.


Treatment and care for HIV/AIDS consists of a number of different elements apart from ARVs. These include voluntary counselling and testing, food and management of nutrition, follow-up counselling, protection from stigma and discrimination, treatment of other sexually transmitted infections, and the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections. Alongside antiretroviral treatment, all of these elements should be made available for all people living with HIV.


HIV/AIDS is killing our children like none other. What can America do to stop this epidemic? Well, the first thing that we can do is EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE. We know not, because we ask not and we aren't informed enough. We also need to get rid of the judgemental thoughts and kill the discrimination. Our children look up to us to be the example therefore we need to learn how to support and care about each other more regardless of any disease or aliment one may have. Again, it is not about the disease nor is it the color of one's skin, it is about the heart that we carry and the mentality that we choose to bring along with it!


Reference:
AVERT. (2011). HIV and AIDS in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/hiv-aids-africa.htm

Growing up in world of racism and poverty :(

Racism has been affecting the lives of many since the beginning of time. It didn't disappear when slavery ended nor did it disappear when Martin Luther King Jr. led the "March on Washington". We are living in the 21st century and it still has not vanished. I believe that my parents experienced more racism issues than I did, especially my father. He was born in the south, North Carolina where it really was ruff. He would tell me stories about how the schools were segregated and he couldn't even look at a Caucasian child. If he did, he would risk getting beat up or hung. My father also suffered from poverty. He came from a family of thirteen brothers and sisters. There was no such thing as buying new clothes every week and sometimes they didn't even have enough food on the table for every family member. His sisters and brothers had to share everything. It was also mandatory for them to work in the farming fields before and after school. When my father turned about 13 or 14, he moved to New York City to begin a better life. Although segregation and racism was still going on, he wasn't as bad in the northern part of the U.S. as it was in the South.

When hearing these stories from my father, I notice that he talks with much gratitude and appreciation. He understands that if it wasn't for his childhood being the way that it was, he wouldn't be as humble as he is today. I have never heard my father complain about anything. He never states that he had a rough childhood. He says that is was full of blessings because it could have been worse. He is glad that he labored as much as he did growing up because taught him the importance of hard work and dedication.

I also have come into contact with racism during my junior year of high school. A few chorus members, the director and I went to a Ihop restaurant after singing for a News Channel station. All of us are of the African American race. When entering the restaurant, we were not waited on immediately. Although there were host/hostess standing around, we were not acknowledged. As we were eating, we noticed that more than half of the customers and restaurant staff were staring at us with ugly expressions. We couldn't even eat in peace. After paying our bill, the looks of disgust were on their faces. It was so bad that we left the restaurant singing, "We shall overcome". This was the worst eating experience I have ever had. I believe that my chorus teacher finally filed a complaint but I do not know what the result was.

We are currently living in the 21st century and it is a shame that such ignorance is still being tolerated. Some children are being taught to like only the children that "look like them". I have even observed little girls in toy stores picking up baby dolls of a different race and hearing their mothers make statements such as "Put that one back. She doesn't look like you so that wouldn't be a good option." Come on America, we have to do better! We have to teach our children that each race brings something special to human kind. A person's skin color is simply an outer covering. An individual's inner spirit is what matters most.

Breastfeeding Practices in France

I decided to research the breastfeeding practices in France. Surprisingly so, breastfeeding is strongly discouraged in this country. France has the lowest breastfeeding rate in the western world. Breastfeeding – particularly after two or three months – is regarded in France as something akin to drinking your own urine.The author of the article, Fiachra stated, "As a gynaecologist reminded a friend of mine the day she confirmed her pregnancy: "Your breasts are for your husband, not your baby."(Gibbons, 2011).

I knew that the people in France place sex and body physique at a high degree however a mother should not have to compromise the health and nourishment of her baby. No woman should feel like she has to compare making the decision to breastfeed her baby to drinking her own urine. It was also mentioned that if a woman chooses to breastfeed her baby, it is a possibility that it will send her companion into the arms of either of mistresses or gay colleagues(Gibson, 2011).How ignorant is that?!?

I didn't realize that breastfeeding in France is a no-no and if the mother decides to do it, she is ridiculed. What a shame!!  I am grateful for the freedom that the United States gives me everyday. I am free to make certain decisions without someone dictating to me what I should or should not do.

Reference:

Gibbons, F. (2011, April 1). In France, Breast is definitely not best. The Guardian. Retrieved from
               http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/01/france-breast-breastfed-baby-death  

Breastfeeding was not for me!

Hi Everyone! After having my daughter, I had to stay in the hospital at least three days before I could be discharged. During my stay, I had a couple of nurses that educated me on the importance of breastfeeding. They explained the breastfeeding procedure to me step by step and the benefits. They wanted to see how much I learned by seeing me breastfeed my daughter. It was challenge and quite painful however the more I did it, I became immune to the pain. I tried the breast pumps for quite a bit and decided that I didn't want to do it anymore. I breastfed my daughter for the first five or six months of her life and then decided to switch to the bottle.

Everything that we do in life has pros and cons. Here are some of the pros and cons of breastfeeding that I thought were important to share with you:

Pros:
Weight Loss
Healthier for baby(in taking natural minerals, no added hormones)
Saves Money
Promotes "mommy and baby" bonding
Keeps the mother's body healthy
Gives Flexibility(use the breast pump or natural breast to feed)

Cons:
May cause physical pain and dryness to the breast area
Takes more energy from the body(mom may become more tired than usual)
Can be emotionally uncomfortable(breastfeeding in a public area)
More challenging task than feeding from a bottle


Every woman is different, therefore I am glad that the United States gives women the CHOICE of whether to breastfeed their child(ren). Women in other countries may not be as privileged to make this decision themselves.

Reference:

More4Kids. (2012). Breastfeeding-Pros and Cons. Retrieved from 

          http://pregnancy.more4kids.info/138/breastfeeding-pros-and-cons/