Hey DMers! Hope everyone is having a fabulous winter break. Just a little update after World AIDS Day- because of limited resources and lots of interest, we had to turn away quite a few students from the free Rapid HIV Testing on the second day. However, the Community Service Center has put together this great list of free places to get tested around Boston!
Make it your New Year's Resolution to get tested! If you'd rather do it in the privacy of your own hometown, ask your physician to give you a test over break. And remember, you can always make an appointment at Student Health Services.
We at Dance Marathon are looking into hosting more Rapid Testing in the days leading up to DM in the Spring- Tweet at us/direct message us with any other suggestions! @BUDanceMarathon Have a safe, happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
World AIDS Day 2
As part of World AIDS Day last week, Dance Marathon hosted two speakers from one of our charities, Sasha and Jeffro from Camp Heartland. Mark, a former Camp Heartland camper, was unable to make it to Boston University that day, but his wife, Sasha, came to share their story.
Sasha and Jeffro were both counselors at Camp Heartland, a camp for children with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Camp Heartland provides kids with a place to go to feel comfortable and have fun in a safe environment. The camp is a place where kids don't have to worry about being judged- from what Sasha and Jeffro have told us, many campers don't share their condition with their friends at home, and the stigma against HIV is still alive and strong in the United States.
Sasha told us that her husband Mark was born with hemophilia, and he contracted HIV through a blood transfusion. He couldn't tell his community he was HIV positive as he was growing up, but after attending Camp Heartland and then becoming a counseler, be began to speak out against the stigma. Sasha met Mark on Camp Heartland's Journey of Hope AIDS Awareness Program, which is a bus tour around the country where campers visit schools, churches, universities and other community groups to share their stories. The Journey of Hope program aims to convey these messages:
1. AIDS is preventable
2. AIDS is not transmitted causally
3. All people with AIDS deserve compassion
4. Get tested
For more information about Journey of Hope, click here.
Jeffro shared with us a song of hope written by one camper he has worked with, and Sasha shared with us the ways her and Mark are trying to have a baby. Sasha told us about the ways she and Mark can help prevent their future child from contracting HIV, which include sperm washing (semen carries HIV, but sprem does not).
We learned so much from Sasha, Jeffro and Katie, a nurse from Boston who has worked at Camp Heartland and also came to speak with us. Thank you so much to them, and we hope everyone who attended learned as much as we did!
Sasha and Jeffro were both counselors at Camp Heartland, a camp for children with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Camp Heartland provides kids with a place to go to feel comfortable and have fun in a safe environment. The camp is a place where kids don't have to worry about being judged- from what Sasha and Jeffro have told us, many campers don't share their condition with their friends at home, and the stigma against HIV is still alive and strong in the United States.
Sasha told us that her husband Mark was born with hemophilia, and he contracted HIV through a blood transfusion. He couldn't tell his community he was HIV positive as he was growing up, but after attending Camp Heartland and then becoming a counseler, be began to speak out against the stigma. Sasha met Mark on Camp Heartland's Journey of Hope AIDS Awareness Program, which is a bus tour around the country where campers visit schools, churches, universities and other community groups to share their stories. The Journey of Hope program aims to convey these messages:
1. AIDS is preventable
2. AIDS is not transmitted causally
3. All people with AIDS deserve compassion
4. Get tested
For more information about Journey of Hope, click here.
Jeffro shared with us a song of hope written by one camper he has worked with, and Sasha shared with us the ways her and Mark are trying to have a baby. Sasha told us about the ways she and Mark can help prevent their future child from contracting HIV, which include sperm washing (semen carries HIV, but sprem does not).
We learned so much from Sasha, Jeffro and Katie, a nurse from Boston who has worked at Camp Heartland and also came to speak with us. Thank you so much to them, and we hope everyone who attended learned as much as we did!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
World AIDS Day success!
World AIDS Day today was a fabulous success- we gave out ribbons and condoms in the GSU Link all day, sold goodies for our Bake Sale, and so many people showed up to get tested we had to tell them to come back tomorrow!
Here's DM's Michelle Markle with the official World AIDS Day shirts at BU:
The Community Service Center's Project Hope did a great job organizing an informational and collaborative event! And there's still more to come tomorrow.
But first, here are some things we talked about at the panel: The Face of AIDS in Boston.
--Different levels of progress in fighting AIDS among different populations in Boston
...Boston is a great city to be in if you are HIV positive, many resources
...prevention and outreach methods should be different in different communities
...members of a community reaching out to their own neighbors and friends is successfull
--The AIDS vaccine
...is still a long way off
...we're taking small steps in the right direction
--Side effects of antiretroviral drugs can vary, but are horrible (vivid dreams, rashes, swelling of body fat, etc.)
--Making the HIV test more routine
...experts disagree
...making it more routine could remove the stigma?
...but counseling that accompanies the HIV test is CRUCIAL, and not something emergency rooms can perform
--The stigma against HIV positive population is still a HUGE problem
...learn more tomorrow with former Camp Heartland campers
...GSU Conference Auditorium, 7 pm
Here's DM's Michelle Markle with the official World AIDS Day shirts at BU:
The Community Service Center's Project Hope did a great job organizing an informational and collaborative event! And there's still more to come tomorrow.
But first, here are some things we talked about at the panel: The Face of AIDS in Boston.
--Different levels of progress in fighting AIDS among different populations in Boston
...Boston is a great city to be in if you are HIV positive, many resources
...prevention and outreach methods should be different in different communities
...members of a community reaching out to their own neighbors and friends is successfull
--The AIDS vaccine
...is still a long way off
...we're taking small steps in the right direction
--Side effects of antiretroviral drugs can vary, but are horrible (vivid dreams, rashes, swelling of body fat, etc.)
--Making the HIV test more routine
...experts disagree
...making it more routine could remove the stigma?
...but counseling that accompanies the HIV test is CRUCIAL, and not something emergency rooms can perform
--The stigma against HIV positive population is still a HUGE problem
...learn more tomorrow with former Camp Heartland campers
...GSU Conference Auditorium, 7 pm
Dance Marathon at World AIDS Day!
Dance Marathon is at the GSU for World AIDS Day today! Come check out our bake sale and pick up an AIDS awareness ribbon!
Monday, November 29, 2010
World AIDS Day facts
World AIDS Day is this WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, and Boston University has lots planned throughout the week. Starting Wednesday, we'll have a bunch of GSU link tables with red ribbons and free condoms! To raise awareness, the condoms will have facts printed on them:
-every 12 seconds, someone contracts HIV
-every 16 seconds, someone dies of HIV
-having an STD makes someone 5x more likely to contract HIV
-condoms can reduce the risk of HIV by 70-100%
-1 in 250 Americans have HIV
-HIV can be transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex
-2/3 of college students do not consistently use condoms
Also, everyone should GET TESTED on the third floor of the GSU on Wednesday and Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm. The testing is completely free and confidential. If you feel nervous about getting tested, check out the video we have of DMers getting tested themselves!
Finally, there are a few great events going on for those interested in learning about what living with HIV/AIDS is like in the US, how the epidemic is being fought worldwide and what you can do.
WEDNESDAY
Documentary: The Lazarus Effect, a film depicting the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs in Zambia. Sister Sheila, who works with HIV positive women in South Africa, will lead a discussion about HIV in developing countries following the film.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Howard Thurman Center
Panel Discussion: The Face of AIDS In Boston. Panelists will discuss the social implications of living with the disease in one of the largest cities in the United States.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Conference Auditorium
Candlelit Vigil: Remember those who have been lost throughout the years.
5:00 p.m.
Marsh Plaza
THURSDAY
Spotlight Speaker: Mark, owner of a video production company and former camper at Camp Heartland, a summer camp for HIV positive youth, will be speaking about the struggles of living with HIV.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Conference Auditorium
More Information about Mark:
As someone living with hemophilia, Hepatitis C, and HIV, the hardest thing for Mark was not being able to talk to anyone, afraid of what people would think and losing friends. He gained the courage to speak about his experiences as a camper then a counselor at Camp Heartland, one of Dance Marathon's charities for kids with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
He has since started his own video production company, Markie Z Productions. He also works full time for AHF, a homecare pharmacy for hemophiliacs and people who are immune-compromised.See More
-every 12 seconds, someone contracts HIV
-every 16 seconds, someone dies of HIV
-having an STD makes someone 5x more likely to contract HIV
-condoms can reduce the risk of HIV by 70-100%
-1 in 250 Americans have HIV
-HIV can be transmitted through oral, vaginal, and anal sex
-2/3 of college students do not consistently use condoms
Also, everyone should GET TESTED on the third floor of the GSU on Wednesday and Thursday from 1 pm to 4 pm. The testing is completely free and confidential. If you feel nervous about getting tested, check out the video we have of DMers getting tested themselves!
Finally, there are a few great events going on for those interested in learning about what living with HIV/AIDS is like in the US, how the epidemic is being fought worldwide and what you can do.
WEDNESDAY
Documentary: The Lazarus Effect, a film depicting the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs in Zambia. Sister Sheila, who works with HIV positive women in South Africa, will lead a discussion about HIV in developing countries following the film.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Howard Thurman Center
Panel Discussion: The Face of AIDS In Boston. Panelists will discuss the social implications of living with the disease in one of the largest cities in the United States.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Conference Auditorium
Candlelit Vigil: Remember those who have been lost throughout the years.
5:00 p.m.
Marsh Plaza
THURSDAY
Spotlight Speaker: Mark, owner of a video production company and former camper at Camp Heartland, a summer camp for HIV positive youth, will be speaking about the struggles of living with HIV.
7:00-8:30 p.m.
Conference Auditorium
More Information about Mark:
As someone living with hemophilia, Hepatitis C, and HIV, the hardest thing for Mark was not being able to talk to anyone, afraid of what people would think and losing friends. He gained the courage to speak about his experiences as a camper then a counselor at Camp Heartland, one of Dance Marathon's charities for kids with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
He has since started his own video production company, Markie Z Productions. He also works full time for AHF, a homecare pharmacy for hemophiliacs and people who are immune-compromised.See More
Sunday, November 28, 2010
World AIDS Day 2010 is right around the corner...
Hey DMers!
We wanted to give a quick shout out to one of our BU rockstars Amey Owen! We recently got a chance to read through her blog, which discusses real world issues and ways to volunteer in the city of Boston! This week her article was about World AIDS Day 2010 and we definitely encourage everyone to check it out and see what she has to say: Magnitude
To find out what events are going on around campus this week check out the facebook event: World AIDS Day Events at BU - wear red!
And last but not least don't forget to WEAR RED on December 1st!
DM Love,
Steph, Maggie, & Eric
PS- For all you social media lovers on twitter use the hashtag #WorldAidsDay and #wearred to promote AIDS awareness!
We wanted to give a quick shout out to one of our BU rockstars Amey Owen! We recently got a chance to read through her blog, which discusses real world issues and ways to volunteer in the city of Boston! This week her article was about World AIDS Day 2010 and we definitely encourage everyone to check it out and see what she has to say: Magnitude
To find out what events are going on around campus this week check out the facebook event: World AIDS Day Events at BU - wear red!
And last but not least don't forget to WEAR RED on December 1st!
DM Love,
Steph, Maggie, & Eric
PS- For all you social media lovers on twitter use the hashtag #WorldAidsDay and #wearred to promote AIDS awareness!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Mother to child transmission eliminated in 4 years?!
The media reported today several important developments in the fight against global HIV/AIDS.
First, Pope Benedict XVI announced that using condoms to prevent HIV transmission was a lesser evil than preventing a possible pregnancy, a significant change from his previous statements that AIDS could not be cured with condom use. The Associated Press reports that this may encourage more people worldwide to use condoms.
Second, The Boston Globe reported a new study shows men may prevent contracting HIV from taking a daily oral antiretroviral pill.
Also in the AP article:
"UNAIDS on Tuesday announced a nearly 20 percent drop in new HIV infections around the world over the past decade -- largely due to increased condom use."
"The report also noted the success of efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus, and said it could be virtually eliminated by 2015."
First, Pope Benedict XVI announced that using condoms to prevent HIV transmission was a lesser evil than preventing a possible pregnancy, a significant change from his previous statements that AIDS could not be cured with condom use. The Associated Press reports that this may encourage more people worldwide to use condoms.
Second, The Boston Globe reported a new study shows men may prevent contracting HIV from taking a daily oral antiretroviral pill.
Also in the AP article:
"UNAIDS on Tuesday announced a nearly 20 percent drop in new HIV infections around the world over the past decade -- largely due to increased condom use."
"The report also noted the success of efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus, and said it could be virtually eliminated by 2015."
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Why is awareness important?
The New York Times published a page one story yesterday about the stigma and health challenges kids growing up with HIV today are still facing. The article emphasizes just how important awareness is- a theme that will be addressed in our speaker event on Dec. 2, with two individuals living with HIV.
Here's an excerpt that shows what's happening right near Boston:
Medication is not the problem for Elizabeth. Eighteen, white, from a wealthy Massachusetts suburb, she has been ostracized and tormented, “ ‘H.I.V. slut’ being yelled across the hallway, anything you can think of,” she said.
Elizabeth did not know she had H.I.V. until the age of 14, when her parents and physician appeared at her therapist’s appointment and told her.
“I couldn’t speak or really breathe,” said Elizabeth, whose mother was infected through a blood transfusion before she was born.
Read the article here.
Dance Marathon will be hosting Mark and Terrance, two individuals living with HIV, as they speak about their experiences for World AIDS Day on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. in the GSU Conference Auditorium.
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