HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, affects more than 33 million people worldwide.
In 1998 alone, 5.8 million people were infected, and new cases are being reported
every day. HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, requires the cells of your body
(white blood cells or T4 cells) to make more copies of itself. Once a significant
number of T4 cells have been infected and rendered useless, the immune system
becomes compromised and can no longer fight off disease. The body becomes open to
attack from otherwise harmless bacteria, germs and other viruses. These are called
opportunistic infections and are the real killers of people who have progressed
from being HIV+ to AIDS.
Although the disease remains a very preventable one, new cases are reported every
day. Usually people who have been infected don't even know it and can remain healthy
for years. Eventually, they learn of their HIV status either by a routine blood test or
by becoming very sick and being hospitalized. It is at the latter stage that HIV would
announce itself as an infection or damage to the immune system.
Developments in medical science have brought HIV/AIDS sufferers new types of drugs called
anti-retrovirals. These drugs have been shown to significantly reduce the amount of virus
in the blood to undetectable levels by being taken in combination with other types of
drugs. This kind of therapy has been referred to as the "cocktail". Although it's a step
in the right direction, it is still not a cure -- only a way to slow down the progression
of the disease.
Research like this would not have been possible without the support of the community and
other agencies funding the research projects. Living with HIV still means living with
uncertainty until a cure can be found. No one is immune to the pains of losing a loved-one,
and HIV doesn't discriminate. We need to keep fighting!
A portion of the proceeds of my CD, Digital Realms,
will be donated to local non-profit organizations that provide education,
assistance, and support to those living with HIV/AIDS. Together we can make a difference...
one life at a time.
For more information visit the links below...
The Body:
An AIDS and HIV Information Resource
www.thebody.com
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
www.adarc.org
People with AIDS
Coalition of Long Island
www.pwac-li.org
Gay Men's Health Crisis
www.gmhc.org
Something Fishy's HIV/AIDS Advocacy Page
www.something-fishy.com/aids.htm
