HIV / AID Awareness

Human Immunodeficiency Virus {HIV}/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome {AIDS} Education 
 

HIV/AIDS Molecule

"Get the Facts"

In the United States 1.2 million people are living with HIV

"HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. This means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.  Getting an HIV test is the first step to finding out if you have HIV and getting medical care. Without medical care, HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and early death" (CDC, 2013, p. 1).
Recent statistics according to Center for Disease Control-CDC (2013, p. 1) indicates that:

- "About 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Each year, about 50,000 people get infected with HIV in the US.

- Nearly 1 in 5 people or about 240,000 with HIV don't know they are infected, don't get HIV medical care, and can pass the virus on to others without knowing it.

- One in four, or only 28% of people with HIV are taking HIV medicine regularly and have their virus under control."
CDC (2013) asserts that, "there's new hope today for stopping HIV in the US. Medicines (antiretroviral therapy or ART) can lower the level of virus in the body. ART helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others. However, only 28% are getting the care they need to manage the disease and keep the virus under control. To help stop HIV, get tested. If you have HIV, get medical care and work with your health care provider to control the virus and not pass it on to others."

In addition, today HIV/AIDS are among the most challenging and life-threatening public health problems facing African Americans. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, affects people regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. HIV and AIDS overwhelmingly have affected African Americans. Although African Americans account for an estimated 13% of the entire United States populations, one of every three Americans with AIDS in African American, according to CDC and prevention's surveillance reports. The importance of addressing this disproportionate impact led the American Red Cross to develop its African American HIV/AIDS Program in 1990.

Too many people don't know they have HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).  Heretofore, it is the mission of LCCOC-LACC to provide HIV/AIDS education to the local community.  The purpose of the HIV/AIDS awareness education is to provide basic and factual information regarding these grim disease call AIDS.  Educational opportunities are delivered: one-to-one, seminars, group discussion format, structured classroom class room settings, college courses, which are conducted by certified HIV/AIDS instructors. Instructors are certified by the American Red Cross to teach the Basic and African American HIV/AIDS courses and are qualified to teach these classes at LCCOC-LACC. Education opportunities are also offered to faith-based community or church settings by means of consultation (CCEP). These educational opportunities are opened to the public, college level students, ministers, and faith-based community entities.  A structure course syllabus are provided for participants, along with multiple educational tools, materials, American Red Cross brochures, literature, posters, and videos, etc. are use to conduct these courses.

Problems (CDC, 2013)- Many people don't know they have HIV or take all the actions to control it.

Testing: More people need to be tested for HIV.
Treating: Many people with HIV do not receive the medical care they need.

- Prevention Counseling: Only 45% of people with HIV getting medical care received prevention counseling from their health care providers in the past year.

Healthy living with HIV/AID and preventing new infection (CDC, 2013)

- HIV testing
- If you have HIV get prevention counseling and medical care
- Stay in medical care
- Take medication to reduce the amount of HIV in the body:

Better health
Longer life
Fewer new infections
Help stop HIV in United States

Americans, the United States government, state and local health departments, health care providers, social workers, counselors, can help!

Prevention Statement

"It's not who you are, but what you do!!"

Outreach Services

- HIV/AIDS Counseling/Education, Free Will
- HIV/AIDS Awareness Class, Free Will
{Comprehensive Course one to three hours}
- Health Ministry Charges, Free Will
- Christian Education Counseling and Referrals, Free Will

You are welcome to call the Lighthouse Christian Counseling And Outreach Center, Inc. for additional details at (877) 852-7536.

Click on the links below to view HIV/AIDS Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentations:
https://files.stablerack.com/WebFiles/79781/LCCOCWEBSITEHIVAIDSEducation.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, Georgia  30333, USA 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348

Retrieved from CDC website URL:

www.cdc.gov/hiv/
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/HIVtesting/index.html

Resource link:

Help meet the goals of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, including getting all people with HIV into care see

www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/onap/nhas