Most of the infections in the world have been acquired by heterosexual relationships; in fact, 50% of the infected individuals are women.
Worldwide the number of cases of HIV are stabilized with a tendency to decrease. In contrast, in Colombia, this number is increasing, and the infection is concentrated in vulnerable populations with a general prevalence of 0.52% (1 of every 200 people), but in some regions of the country the prevalence in the more vulnerable groups can reach 24.1% (1 of every 4) in men who have sex with men; 4.54% (1 of every 22) in sexual workers and 3.8% (1 of each 26) in intravenous drug users.
You choose how it ends...
Alcohol is a depressant drug that is legal; its use decreases the conscience, the perception of risk and frequently exposes the consumer to situations that would not face unless he or she is under its influence, such as unprotected sexual relationships, even with unknown partners; something similar may occur with other legal and illegal substances.
The addiction to alcohol or others drugs may lead the individual to practice commercial sex, for getting the money to obtain the different substances.
There is a very high risk of acquiring HIV infection by intravenous drug users for sharing needles with infected people.
Sexual diversity refers to the different sexual features, types of orientation or sexual identity. This diversity is present in nature in different species including the human being, expressing in different ways according to the cultures.
The discrimination and stigma associated to the different forms of expression of the human sexuality increase the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases; due to the fear for NOT having equal access to educational and health services.
Not all types of sexual relations have similar risk for acquiring HIV, because it is known that certain tissues of the human body are more likely to become infected by the virus. Non-protected sexual relations among men who have sex with men have the greater risk, while the transmission of the virus from men to women is 2 to 4 times more efficient that of woman to man.
The society must fight for the respect to the differences, in order to allow the integral development of each individual, where values such as tolerance, solidarity and social justice are a priority.
Expect more tomorrow, next:
Since the first cases of AIDS, many of the people living with HIV have suffered of discrimination and stigma inside institutions of health and even more in the society, fed by the lack of knowledge, myths and prejudices towards the disease.
Our society also discriminates based on ethnic origin, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, religion, languages, physical aspect and many other conditions.
THE RESPECT TO OTHERS IS EVIDENCE OF AN OPEN MIND TO ACCEPT THE DIFFERENCES, RESULTING IN A RICHER AND STRONGER SOCIETY.
You can make the difference: reflect and express your disagreement against the discrimination!
Importance of HIV in Medellín:
Most of the infections in the world have been acquired by heterosexual relationships; in fact, 50% of the infected individuals are women.
Worldwide the number of cases of HIV are stabilized with a tendency to decrease. In contrast, in Colombia, this number is increasing, and the infection is concentrated in vulnerable populations with a general prevalence of 0.52% (1 of every 200 people), but in some regions of the country the prevalence in the more vulnerable groups can reach 24.1% (1 of every 4) in men who have sex with men; 4.54% (1 of every 22) in sexual workers and 3.8% (1 of each 26) in intravenous drug users.
SiFuturo Foundation (Medellín, 2002), is a non-profit organization committed with the integral development of children with HIV and their families and the prevention of this disease.
Since 2012, SiFuturo Foundation has been working on an education program about sexuality and HIV prevention, aimed to young people and general public.
We are interested in establishing a dialogue about HIV among the community on the relevance of selfcare, respect and free choice of healthy, pleasant and responsible sexuality.
This exhibition has been developed thanks to national and international donors, through GlobalGiving, and the colaborative work of the Immunovirology Group at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Antioquia. MP4 PRO designed this exhibition. Several focus group of young people, some of them with HIV,gave us their suggestions about the contents of the exhibition.
The first photo: "It all started when we decided to hunt them"
The origin of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus goes back to the beginning of the 20th century in central Africa, specifically in the region known today as Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The initial infection occurred by transmission of the simian virus to humans, probably by direct contact with contaminated blood or tissues during hunting or handling of meat. Later, the spread of the virus was facilitated by the mobility of the population.
The first people who developed AIDS were men, detected in 1981 in Los Angeles, United States. The infection quickly spread, and since then more than 37 million people have died; at the end of the 2015, close to 36 million people were living with HIV around the world.
Please, expect more tomorrow...
EDUCATIVE EXHIBITION AND ARTISTIC EXHIBITION
Between the 8th and the 23th of September 2016, a photo exhibition will be displayed “VIH, CONOCE Y DECIDE” (HIV, KNOW AND DECIDE), at the research headquarters of the “Universidad de Antioquia”. This art display includes 12 conceptual pictures taken by the audiovisual agency “MP4” with guidance from focus groups of people living with HIV and the Board of the SiFuturo Foundation.
The photos will be exhibited along with educational texts. The first photo of the exhibition and its corresponding text is attached. As of September 8, we will make a daily delivery of this exhibition. We seek to educate citizens on the importance of adopting self-care practices associated with a responsible sexuality. The expected public for this exhibition includes at least 500 high school students and an undefined number of college students. This exhibition will continue traveling to different educational institutions for supporting the workshops that we are currently doing.
In addition, we now have an open call for artists for two-dimensional works of art, which closes September 30th. The finalists and winners, will be exhibited from December 1 at the headquarters of the library of “Comfenalco” in Medellin. Promotional poster is attached.
INTERVENTION AT HIGH SCHOOLS
To date, 690 adolescents, from 8 different educational institutions have been sensitized with workshops, strengthening their ability for taking decisions, with an emphasis on self-care and in a free, pleasant and responsible sexuality.
We enclose the testimonial video of one of them. For educational activities, we deliver a brochure with academic information regarding HIV/AIDS as teaching material that is distributed during the workshops at high schools, also at universities and different places where the message for HIV/AIDS prevention can be brought.
The Foundation has also continuous updating its educational blog (http: coconoceydecideaprendiendodelvih.wordpress.com) with at least 22 new entries since the beginning of the project. During the 2016 has received 1703 visits, 64 % from Colombia and the rest from 35 different countries.
Links:
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