HIV…Get Tested

Today is World AIDS Day. “World AIDS Day is the day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.” To learn more about World AIDS Day and World Vision and see what you can do to help. Here are a few things of interest on this World AIDS Day.

Physicians are urging more people to get tested for HIV/Aids. They are even pushing for guidelines for testing to start at 13 years old.

“The purpose of the guideline is to present the available evidence to physicians as a way to help guide their decisions around screening for HIV in their practice,” guideline lead author Dr. Amir Qaseem, senior medical associate in ACP’s Clinical Programs and Quality of Care Department, said in a group news release. “ACP recommends that physicians adopt a routine screening policy for HIV and encourage their patients to get tested, regardless of their risk factors.”

The hope for an AIDS vaccine is still strong and perhaps one day (hopefully within the decade or so) one will be found. A lot of testing is still needed though.

The consensus: A viable vaccine is still very possible, and with it comes the potential to wipe out HIV/AIDS. But the science behind any new candidate vaccine must be much stronger than it has been in the past before testing begins in humans.

Until a cure is found and a vaccination has proven effective the best thing to do on your part is protect yourself. Using a condom is only one precaution. If you get a tattoo or piercing ensure you have it done at a clean and reputable place. If your an intravenous drug user use a clean needle and do not exchange needles with anyone. Take all the precautions necessary, even if it means abstaining from sex. Don’t make yourself a statistic.

Image Source: Healthandmen.com