Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that is killing a lot of people but, especially African-American people . AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981. More than 500,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States since that time, and as many as 900,000 Americans may be infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Currently, 40,000 new cases of AIDS are diagnosed annually.



As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on December 1, 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. The spread of the virus is growing fastest among African Americans.

What is HIV/AIDS

AIDS is caused by HIV. HIV causes AIDS by killing the T-cells or by interfering with their normal function and by triggering other events that weaken a person's immune function. Now the T-cells (a type of white blood cell) are important to your body because they are the killer cells that fight other cells that are trying to destroy the body.

For instance, if your body is attacked with the flu, it is the T-cells that fight those virus flu cells to help heal the body. They may well be the most important cells, surely they are the baddest cells in the body. But when HIV comes in, they look for the T-cells in order to take them out, destroy or kill them. If they can't kill them, they cripple the T-cells and make them helpless; therefore allowing the HIV virus to replicate itself. In other words, by killing the T-cells, HIV progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infection and diseases.

Once the T-cell count is less than 200cell/mm the person is diagnosed with AIDS. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS.

How is HIV Transmitted

Most commonly HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected partner. The virus can enter the body through the lining of the vagina, anus, penis or mouth.

HIV is also spread through contact with infected blood. Before the screening of blood for evidence of HIV infection, HIV was transmitted through blood transfusion. Some of you may know that this is how Arthur Ashe (one of the greatest tennis players and humanitarian ever) died. Today the risk is small for getting HIV through blood transfusion, but not out of the question.

HIV frequently is spread among injection drug users by the sharing of needles or syringes contaminated with small amounts of blood from someone infected with the virus.

Women can transmit HIV to their unborn babies during pregnancy or birth. HIV can also be spread to babies through the breast milk of mothers infected with the virus. To date evidence does not show that HIV can be spread to others through, sweat, or tears, but caution should be taken. But open mouth kissing is another issue. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and The American Red Cross states that:

?Prolonged open-mouth kissing could damage the mouth or lips. This may allow HIV to spread from a person with HIV to a partner through cuts, sores or mucus membranes in the mouth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends against open-mouth kissing with a partner who has HIV because there could be a risk of blood contact. In 1997, the CDC reported a case of HIV transmission likely caused by open-mouth kissing between a man with HIV and his woman partner. After much study, researchers concluded that blood in the man's saliva most likely infected the mucus membranes in the woman's mouth. Both had gum disease that caused the gums to bleed easily, and the couple had consistently used condoms?. (CDC, 2007)

It's important to heed caution because if there are cuts, abrasions or injuries to the body where infected fluid can enter (cuts in the mouth, on the face), the virus can be transmitted. Also studies of families of HIV-infected people have shown clearly that HIV is not spread through casual contact, such as the sharing of food utensils, towels, bedding, swimming pools, telephones or toilet seats. But use wisdom.

HIV/AIDS and African Americans

Many African Americans are at high risk for HIV infection, not because of our ethnicity or race, but because of the risk we take with our behaviors and our beliefs. There are at least four misconceptions that encourage poor judgment and leads African-Americans to be at high risk for HIV/AIDS:

We struggle with abstaining from sex outside of marriage (a problem for all not just African-Americans)

We believe that the condom will protect us from HIV/AIDS. Condoms break all the time, come off or are not put on correctly. There may even be some evidence to suggest that the virus may pass through the membrane of some condoms

We believe that by having sex with someone who may have an undetectable status for HIV (no symptoms, but still tests positive), that the risk of being infected with the virus is diminished

We believe that if an infected person is taking his/her medications, that the medications will prevent them from transmitting the virus

The National Center for Health Statistics, indicates that HIV/AIDS is one of the top 10 leading causes of death for African Americans with 51 percent of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed during 2001?2004 among African-Americans.

Of new infections among women in the United States, CDC estimates that approximately 75 percent of women were infected through heterosexual sex and 25 percent through injection drug use. Of newly infected women, approximately 64 percent are African-American.

Additionally, among African-American males and females, case rates were 7 and 21 times higher, respectively, than rates for whites. Among HIV/AIDS cases reported during 2001?2004, the most common route of HIV infection was attributed to male-to-male sexual contact (men who have sex with men [MSM]) (44%), followed by heterosexual contact (34%), injection-drug use (IDU) (17%), MSM/IDU (4%), and perinatal (0.6%). (Center for Disease Control) For black men, the most common ways of getting HIV involves having unprotected sex with another man who has HIV and for black women, the most common ways of getting HIV involves having unprotected sex with a man who has HIV.

Living on the ?Down Low? (Secret Lover)

Living on the ?down low? involves husbands and boyfriends who are having secret sex with other men. It's one of the major reasons why so many women who are married and not gay are getting AIDS.

?A man living on the ?down-low? has been another cause of many women becoming infected with HIV. There have been many cases where a man has denied the fact that he likes sleeping with men to the woman that he is involved with because he does not think he is homosexual. Men who are living life on the ?down-low? have been giving women HIV at faster rates than they are giving it to men who are also having sex with men. Many of the men who are having sex with other men do not tell anyone, not even the women they are involved with, for fear that their lifestyle will be frowned upon by the black community?. (TNJN.com)

Church's Response

Historically, the church has been silent regarding the AIDS initiative. ?In fact, since 1981 when AIDS was first described, the personal tragedies and social failures associated with the disease appear to have been largely ignored by the church except for those strident segments that view AIDS as God's retribution on a sinful people?. (Shelp, 1985)

But recently, the Black faith leaders from around the country convened earlier this month to plot a legislative strategy for ending the AIDS epidemic in Black America. The remarkable meeting which drew roughly 200 participants, including not only African American clergy but also Black medical professionals and congressional members was a critical step in a clergy-led campaign to push both local and national elected officials into action. (BlackAids.org)

While on a national level some Black Church leaders are beginning to address the issue, far too many church leaders at the local level continue to struggle and stay disconnected. Often, Christian leaders are in need of the reminder of the words aligned with the ?Hamitic? Peter in 1 Pet. 4:8 that the weak are important to God; and that we should extend mercy to them.

Who's at risk

Those who use drugs, share needles or syringes

Those who are engaged in homosexual or bisexual activity

Those who stray from the marriage vows. Remember, there are people who have HIV or AIDS out there having sexual relations with others. Many times they (HIV/AIDS patients) engage in this criminal behavior because of anger

Those who engage in risky behaviors such as open mouth kissing or oral sex (Remember you may have a cut in your mouth or an abrasion)

Those who have sex with someone who may have an undetectable HIV status People who are involved in risky behaviors, should be tested for HIV every 3-6 months

Early Symptoms

Many people do not develop symptoms when they first become infected. Some however do. Some of the symptoms include: Flu like illness within a month or two after exposure to the virus. They may have fevers, headaches or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin. They will usually disappear in a week or two and can be mistaken for another viral infectionMore severe symptoms may not show up for years ten or more during this time the HIV virus is killing the T-cells. As the immune system is being destroyed, a variety of complications begin to surface. Such as:

Lymph nodes remain large

lack of energy

weight loss

frequent fevers and sweats

persistent yeast infections

persistent skin rashes or flaky skin

frequent and severe herpes infections

How is HIV or AIDS diagnosed

HIV is diagnosed through a blood test. HIV becomes AIDS as the T-cells are destroyed in large numbers and more infections are known.

Prevention

Leviticus 18:22 states ?You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.? The book of Leviticus is unique in that God is speaking and providing direct instructions to the African Hebrew Isralites on how to live together

Abstain from sexual intimacy outside to the marriage. Don't do it

When married, stay with your mate that God has given you. Don't stray

Abstain from drug use of any kind, but especially drug use involving needles or syringes

Treatment

If you are involved with drugs and risky sexual behavior you and your partner should be tested every six months. The treatment of HIV or AIDS consists of drugs that have to be taken every day for the rest of someone's life. These medications do not prevent transmission of HIV to others. They can not cure HIVor AIDS, but they can stop people from becoming ill for many years. Medications include:

antiretrovirals

anti-HIV drugs

HIV antiviral drugs

If you are a Pastor, church leader or organization

1. Preach on the importance of living a Godly lifestyle

2. Preach on having compassion for the weak and the afflicted

3. Develop and support outreach efforts aimed at helping those who are most in need

4. Invite organizations like Healthy Living Seminars to come and speak to your congregation or ministry groups about HIV, AIDS and other challenges

If you have HIV or AIDS

Learn to handle your stress and be proactive become informed.

Educate yourself about the disease and treatments.

You may consider combining the different forms of treatment.

Find respectful treatment and doctors

Get good support. Start with your church.

For more information contact

Healthy Living Seminars 1-630-329-7504 www.healthylivingseminars.org

National AIDS Hotline 1-800-342-2437 this number is available 24hours

Black Leadership Commission on Aids 1-800-573-2522

National Aids Clearinghouse, Center for Disease Control 1-800-458-5231

For new drug treatments: 1-800-874-2572; 1-800-418-0440