Comments on: Waking America up about AIDS

By: phoenix1

phoenix1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:09:24 +0000

Use condoms. Use discernment and common sense. Don’t sleep with round heels and hook-ups. Take care of yourself so you are clean,strong and healthy. Those simple things will significantly lower your risk of any illness, including HIV…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:07:09 +0000

“I won’t spare another second of my life thinking about this non-issue because I do not engage in any of the “complex behaviors” that will infect me with HIV.” – posted by Artful_____________________________Are you sure you’ll never need blood transfusion? Are you sure one of the medical practitioners you see will never try to save a buck by reusing single use supplies? Are you sure you’ll never exchange biological fluids with your surgeon/dentist, who earlier exchanged those fluids with someone infected? No “complex behaviors” act necessary – an accidental finger prick by a syringe will do.None of these risks is urban legend stuff. The news a few weeks ago were full of a NJ oncologist who was “not following a proper procedure” or whatever official formula was about using same catheters on multiple patients. Now he’s appealing license suspension. A few years ago I red in a mag (offered to visitors in a dental office – what a coincident!) about a girl who got HIV from her openly gay dentist. And people in need of regular blood transfusions, like hemophiliacs, are recognized as high HIV infection risk group, even though they not necessarily engage in any of the “complex behaviors”.Having said that, there’s no excuse for the ones who either knowingly or stupidly engage into these “complex behaviors”, even less so the ones who make these “complex behaviors” a subject of pride.

By: Artful

Artful — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:36:24 +0000

You claim “information campaigns alone can’t change complex behaviors,” and you’re absolutely right- each person is responsible for their own “behaviors”, complex or otherwise. If HIV/AIDS has faded to the background it’s because people know about it, people know how you get it, and they will either make good choices or they won’t. I won’t spare another second of my life thinking about this non-issue because I do not engage in any of the “complex behaviors” that will infect me with HIV. Every nine and a half minutes someone in this country may slam their hand in a door but I don’t think we need a taxpayer-funded “information campaign” about the dangers of self-inflicted door injuries.

By: Anubis

Anubis — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:32:52 +0000

Mr. Fenton you are correct. HIV Is poised to become an epidemic in all of our inner cities where the cycle of poverty and incarceration are prevalent. There is prevailing view amongst pundits and policymakers that little can be done about education, health care, climate change and their related crisis’ until we “fix” the economy.In fact the world economic conditions dominate the news or the impact it will have on the troubles humanity faces. This is most unfortunate. Human need and survival has taken a back seat to the concerns for industries run by unscrupulous and greedy men. As if these saving these failed institutions are the key to our survival. I sense an almost pagan type worship of the economic system and it’s institutions.Perhaps instead of investing our grandchildren’s future earnings in banks and corporations now, we should invest in healthcare, education, alternative energy and transportation for people. It would cost a lot less and probably create a whole lot more jobs.