World AIDS Day

A family from our agency that recently adopted their daughter from Ethiopia had this paragraph of facts about HIV/AIDS on its blog. I thought it important to copy it here. Ethiopia has been affected by HIV/AIDS and so our family will be affected by HIV/AIDS. This now becomes part of our story as well.

In addition, over Thanksgiving, I had a conversation with a friend and this topic arose. So many people don't know enough, so... for your information:

HIV can be contracted vertically from mother to child in utero, during child birth, or by nursing. HIV can be contracted horizonally through blood (sharing needles or razors or other blood to blood contact) or body fluids (sex). HIV canNOT be contracted through saliva. You can NOT get HIV from hugging, kissing, or sharing a toilet seat or a drink, or engaging in typical day-to-day activities. HIV is an extremely fragile virus that begins to die as soon as it leaves the body. Though theoretically possible, HIV has never been spread by a skinned knee or a bloody nose. HIV is a chronic but manageable condition.

With medicines now available, people can live indefinitely with HIV, without ever developing AIDS. Women with HIV can give birth to HIV- babies. Children with HIV are expected to live to old age... a normal life span. HIV is actually MUCH easier managed than Type I Diabetes. Woah!

Thanks for reading and learning.