God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

02/04/2013 • 5:03 pm Comments Off on

Speaking up… that’s what we need in our work to combat the pandemic, and not to forget the blessings coming along with a fight like this one…

 

Speaking up's avatarSpeaking Up!

Dear HIV,

Today is 16 years I have learnt that I share my life with you. What a shock it was. At the time, it was difficult to imagine I would be alive today. Here we are in 2013 and it looks like we will have many more years together. It is pointless to think what would my life had been without you.I will never know.

I know that thanks to you I had to take a very good look at myself, and the world. I had to look straight in the eyes of death and illness. Thanks to you I stopped taking my life for granted. I had to ask difficult questions to myself. Recognise my fragilities, and my responsibilities. What was most painful: I had to question the possibility of love and intimacy. How difficult closeness becomes, when your body is a potential threat to your loved one…

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Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

01/30/2013 • 7:45 am Comments Off on

Interesting read…

sbarns's avatarTuko Pamoja Mkyashi

the-wisdom-of-whores-bureaucrats-brothels-and-the-business-of-aids

Don’t be turned off by the name of this book. It’s meant to catch your attention, and it is clear in reading the book that Pisani has the utmost respect for the people she has spent her life working with. If she has any contempt, it is for the people who continue to propagate myths about AIDS based on personal beliefs and agendas.

The Wisdom of Whores is one of the most interesting and fast-reading nonfiction books I’ve ever read. It is very issue specific – talking solely about HIV/AIDS as opposed to “development” more generally – but the lessons it teaches more generally about how money flows in the development community relate to all major issues. Some of those lessons learned include:

–  When an issue becomes “hot” organizations will flock to it and compete for cash.

–  Aid workers often feel pressure to keep their issue “hot” and…

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Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Medical and Research, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , ,

01/17/2013 • 4:51 am Comments Off on New Year Resolutions..

New Year Resolutions..

It is always the same at the end of the year to formulate resolutions for the new year, only to abolish them quicker than one can spell them out. For the last years I have done away with resolutions as they went the way into nirvana latest end of January.

This year is somehow different – it seems that the resolutions are more in depth -maybe also because being far away from home and experiencing Christmas and the New Year’s Eve with a crowd not familiar with on a cruise through the Caribbean Sea. So daily life and daily struggle was far away and despite being in demand by all the people trying to flee the Christmas sentiments there was time to reflect life and come to conclusions.
Realizing how much one is lived on a daily base, how much one is busy to run with all the expectations of people around oneself it is maybe time to be once again more “myself”.  Discovering yet again the one living with yourself since birth. Refusing to be bend according to protocol and demands of those around you. Feeling again the roots one has developed over times and not to be afraid to speak out – and let ago – depending what is called for.

Not being afraid to live the life one is called for – seeing the beauty and the beast in oneself and accepting that both are part of the deal. And being myself also means to be able to coop with all realities coming along the way – encountering those along the way in true fashion and honesty, embracing life to the fullest without getting lost in the process.

2013 will be a good year – and the resolutions may last for the whole year and open up new possibilities.. I am looking forward to this year and wish all readers the blessings needed to grow in love, faith and hope.

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Filed under: General, Reflection, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , ,

01/08/2013 • 1:14 pm Comments Off on In the press…

In the press…

There are two new articles of interest, one describing advances in a therapeutic vaccine, the other reports an interesting observation which could lead to a new approach regarding functional cure.

Cure: Curious Cohort on early treatment – read here
New HIV Vaccine is safe – read here

Another piece I found is the letter of a HIV positive mother, writing to her healthy future grown up son confessing her infection. A letter full of emotions and truth – read here

Enjoy reading!

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Treatment, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

01/05/2013 • 8:42 am Comments Off on How long do I live when HIV positive?

How long do I live when HIV positive?

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy (Photo credit: Greatist)

A good question and first the good news: People with HIV may enjoy life spans close to normal if they are on antiretroviral therapy, maintain low viral loads and CD4 counts above 350, are not co infected with viral hepatitis, and are not injection drug users, according to a new study from the United Kingdom, aidsmap reports. It is an interesting report giving hope to those thinking, that HIV might cut their life too short to live it to the fullest. A good starting point to read it at the beginning of the year. Click here

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Filed under: HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, HIV Treatment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , ,

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