HIV (Human Immundodeficiency Virus)  is the name of the actual virus.  AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the name of the condition that eventuall results when HIV is either left untreated or when a person's body becomes unweakened and can no longer fight off bacteria and diseases.

Who needs to worry about AIDS?

It's easy to think that AIDS is something for other people to worry about - gay people, drug users, people who sleep around. This is wrong - all teens, whoever they are, wherever they live need to take the threat of HIV seriously. To be able to protect yourself, you need to know the facts, and know how to avoid becoming infected.

 HIV is a big problem for young people, as well as adults. In 2005, it is estimated that there were 2.3 million people under 15 living with HIV.

How do you get infected?

HIV is passed on in the sexual fluids or blood of an infected person, so if infected blood or sexual fluid gets into your body, you can become infected. This usually happens by either having sexual intercourse with an infected person or by sharing needles used to inject drugs with an infected person. People can also become infected by being born to a mother who has HIV and a very small number of people become infected by having medical treatment using infected blood transfusions.

HIV can't be caught by kissing, hugging or shaking hands with an infected person, and it can't be transmitted by sneezes, door handles or dirty glasses.

What about using drugs?

The only way to be safe around drugs is not to take them.

How can I tell if someone's infected with HIV?

There is no way to tell just by looking at someone whether they are infected with HIV. Someone can be infected but have no symptoms and still look perfectly healthy. They might also feel perfectly healthy and not know themselves that they are infected. The only way to know if a person is infected or not is if they have a blood test.

Is there a cure?

There is no cure for HIV. HIV is a virus, and no cure has been found for any type of virus. Recently, doctors have been able to control the virus once a person is infected, which means that a person with HIV can stay healthy for longer, but they have not managed to get rid of the virus in the body completely.

*Kommon Ground is a program of JOURNEYS, Inc. Child Placement Services 

www.journeyscps.org

Copyright  2010-11

  Author Neil Willenson

 

Neil Willenson is the Founder and CEO of Camp Heartland, a national non-profit organization that makes a year-round and life-long difference for children impacted by HIV/AIDS. In 1993, after befriending a five-year-old boy with the illness and witnessing the discrimination, pain and sadness that he experienced, Willenson, then 22 years old, sought to provide a safe haven for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Since the inception of Camp Heartland, thousands of children have participated in various camp sessions where they can have fun, make friends, feel accepted, and if desired, speak openly about living with the disease.

Willenson is also the co-creator and leader of the Journey of Hope AIDS Awareness Program. During these unique presentations, children affected by AIDS are given the opportunity to share their experiences with school groups, religious organizations and community audiences. Since 1994, the Journey of Hope has visited dozens of cities and has educated and inspired thousands of individuals. In addition, Willenson has served as a keynote speaker providing insight on youth leadership, activism and inspiration.

In order to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, Willenson and the Camp Heartland program have been featured by "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Progressive Magazine, USA Today, and hundreds of other publications. Willenson and Camp Heartland were profiled in the CBS Movie of the Week, "Angelie's Secret," in the Disney Channel film "Friends for Life," on "Good Morning America," "CBS Morning News" and countless television talk shows, and in the film, "Born with HIV: Little Warriors."

Under his leadership, Camp Heartland has raised over $20 million to support children with HIV/AIDS, has grown to become the largest organization of its kind, and now serves as a model for dozens of other camps throughout the world.

Fundamental in every project Willenson leads is the belief that all people have value and that we should follow our heart and work toward a brighter tomorrow.

 

  

  

For more information about the book,

 

please visit

 

www.campheartland.org

 

 

  

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