Women Misbehavin'

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Archive for the ‘HIV AIDS’ Category

Face AIDS on World AIDS Day

Posted by joyinhome on December 1, 2010

HIV/AIDS is nature’s oxymoron. Sex is supposed to bring forth life, but now, it can potentially destroy it. Let’s ALL stay safe. Know your status. Get tested. Drop the stigma. Face AIDS.

A global snapshot:

  • 33.4 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide
  • 2.1 million of those are children under 15
  • 2.9 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2009
  • 1.8 million people died from HIV-related causes in 2009
  • 67% of the people living with HIV/AIDS are in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Young people account for half of new HIV infections

What will you be doing to commemorate the day?

More at The Red Pump Project.

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Global, Health, HIV AIDS | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Interesting Strategy to Fight HIV

Posted by joyinhome on July 16, 2010

This morning I heard a concert promotion on the radio. At the tail end, it said to “Go VIP for HIV!” Concert attendees could purchase a ticket for VIP access at a higher price and a portion of the proceeds would go to Metro Teen AIDS, a local group that promotes awareness of HIV/AIDS among teens. How great is that!

First step, creativity, next step a cure.

Posted in Advocacy, Families, Global, Health, HIV AIDS | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Posted by joyinhome on March 10, 2010

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day designed to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls.

Every 35 minutes a woman in the United States tests positive for HIV. Historically, HIV/AIDS has affected more men than women, but that is quickly changing. In the Washington Metro area women are increasingly becoming infected. Today, approximately one in four Americans living with HIV is a woman. It’s time to empower and educate yourself and those women in your life. Know your status, get tested and be safe.

Events

Resources

www.sisters4sisters.com
CDC
U.S. Health and Human Services: Women’s Health
The Red Pump Project
The Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Resources

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Families, girls, Global, Health, HIV AIDS, Research, YWM | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

We Are All Precious

Posted by joyinhome on December 4, 2009

So I finally saw it yesterday.

I almost talked myself out of it because I was that anxious. But I saw Precious yesterday afternoon, alone with my Kleenex and contraband goodies.

As I thought about writing this and which direction it would take, a close friend came to mind, who vowed not to see it. I respect her decision, especially for those who have lived some of those horrific experiences. BUT, I am hopeful that those of us who have not endured such mind-numbing pain, will see this movie.

I have heard the argument that rape and incest happen everyday with real people- why would you waste your time going to see it play out on a big screen? My response is if you have not lived it or know anyone who has, it is easy to say “that’s not me, why should I care.”

Art in its best and truest forms shines light on that which we want kept in the dark. It is a reflection of life. Sapphire, the author of PUSH (the book which inspired the movie), wrote about the collective experiences of people she knew. Although it was fiction, it was fiction that is based in reality.

Precious tears off any blinders that you may wear. It forces you to care about this unlikely heroine and cheer for her against all odds. And it forces you to think about/have discussions with your family, friends, children, strangers and co-workers about incest, rape, illiteracy, abuse, education, stereotypes, HIV/AIDS…

If this movie can empower one person and end the deafening silence that envelopes incest in one family, then Lee Daniels did us a solid.

Posted in Diversity, Education, Families, Feminism, girls, Global, Health, HIV AIDS, Mental health, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

World AIDS Day

Posted by joyinhome on December 1, 2009

It impacts us all.

And women and girls are disproportionately impacted. Check the stats. Even Twitter is going RED.

The theme for World AIDS Day this year is universal access and human rights. So let’s keep it simple.

  1. Know your status. Get tested TODAY if you engage in”high-risk” behaviors (unprotected sex, intravenous drug use) and have not been tested in the past six months.
  2. Stay safe. Unprotected sex is still the number way to contract HIV/AIDS. Other than abstinence, nothing keeps you safer than condoms – EVERY TIME.
  3. Educate yourself. Despite popular belief, this disease does not favor the young, drug-addicted, promiscuous, poor or homosexual. Know the facts – we are all at risk if we do not take the proper steps.  Seniors, heterosexual women and teens are increasingly testing positive due to unsafe behaviors. 

Resources
WorldAIDSDay.org
The Red Pump Project
Kaiser Family Foundation HIV/AIDS Resources

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Families, girls, Global, Health, HIV AIDS | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Unsafe Sex Is Killing Women and Girls

Posted by joyinhome on November 16, 2009

womenhivAccording to the World Health Organization, unsafe sex is killing women and girls around the globe. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 15 and 44; unsafe sex is the biggest risk factor. The death rates of women in their reproductive years occurred in low-income (22.3 percent) and middle-income countries (15.4 percent).

We must become advocates for ourselves and/or for our girls. HIV is a preventable disease.  If abstinence is not possible, safe sex is a no brainer. It’s time to start talking and sharing information. We can not afford to remain silent- our lives are at stake.

Resources
www.theredpumpproject.com
Kaiser Family Foundation HIV-AIDS Resources
AIDS.gov

The report, Women and Health: Today’s Evidence Tomorrow’s Agenda, focuses on the health and circumstances of women worldwide – specifically, women’s health needs and their contribution to the health of societies.

Despite considerable progress over the past two decades, societies are still failing women at key moments in their lives; mostly women in poor countries and the poorest women in ALL countries.

Posted in Advocacy, Education, Families, Feminism, Global, Health, HIV AIDS | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Get Ready for National Women’s Health Week

Posted by businesswom on May 1, 2009

fruit

As the precursor to National Women’s Health Week (May 10-May 16), the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy & Initiatives and the D.C. Commission for Women hosted the first ever Washington Women and Girls Wellness Summit.  Yesterday’s event had a wide range of speakers presenting research and advice concerning Obesity, HIV/AIDS, and Diabetes prevention.  If you didn’t understand the epidemiologist, you would certainly understand the personal testimonies and comments from the many attendees from local nonprofits and DC Councilmember Yvette Alexander.  They even closed the event by distributing healthy fruit and a re-usable burlap tote (so cute!) to support the environment.

The breakout session notes will be incorporated into a full report to provide an agenda for promoting the health of women and girls in Washington, D.C.  I hope that DC DOH takes the report as the foundation for a research-based strategic planning approach to ensure the voices of the community stakeholders are heard.  This will ensure they create programs that engage those directly impacted by these health issues based on factual data.   Be sure to support this event next year, they had a great agenda.  The turnout was nice, and hopefully word-of-mouth with get even more residents and nonprofits out next year.

photo credit

Posted in Families, Health, HIV AIDS | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

 
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