Living With HIV/AIDS: Myths and Facts

Anyone Can Get HIV

Fact. About 50,000 people in the U.S. get HIV each year, and almost 14,000 people with AIDS die each year. Anyone can get HIV -- men, women, and children, people who are gay or straight. Men who have sex with men make up about 29,000 new HIV infections each year. Women account for about 8,000 new infections. African-Americans continue to experience the most severe burden of HIV, compared with other races and ethnicities

AIDS WALK. Source: WebMD/Getty

Living With HIV/AIDS: Myths and Facts

HIV Can Be Cured

Myth. At this time, there is no cure for HIV in most cases, but treatment can keep virus levels low and help maintain your immune system. Some drugs interfere with proteins HIV needs to copy itself; others block the virus from entering or inserting its genetic material into your immune cells. Your doctor will consider your general health, the health of your immune system, and the amount of virus in your body to decide when to start treatment.

Birthday celebration. Source: WebMD/Getty

Living With HIV/AIDS: Myths and Facts

You'll Know You Have HIV Because of Your Symptoms

Myth. Some people don't show any signs of HIV for years after being infected. Many can have some symptoms within 10 days to a few weeks after infection. These first symptoms are similar to the flu or mononucleosis and may include fever, fatigue, rash, and sore throat. They usually disappear after a few weeks and you may not have symptoms again for several years. The only way to tell you have HIV is to get tested.

Man with a cold and fever. Source: WebMD/Getty

Living With HIV/AIDS: Myths and Facts

You Have Just a Few Years to Live

Myth. The truth is that many people live for decades with HIV or AIDS and have a normal or near-normal lifespan. You can help prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS by seeing your doctor regularly and following your doctor's guidance.

Seek medical services. Source: WebMD/Getty

Living With HIV/AIDS: Myths and Facts

It's Difficult to Get HIV From Casual Contact

Fact. You can't catch or spread HIV from hugging someone, using the same towel, or sharing the same glass. It's very rare to get HIV from a blood transfusion -- the U.S. blood supply is carefully tested. However, you can spread the disease from having unprotected sex, sharing needles, or getting a tattoo from unsterilized equipment.

Couple sharing a drink. Source: WebMD/Getty

Living With HIV/AIDS: Myths and Facts (Source: WebMD)

Having HIV Means You Have AIDS

Myth. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that destroys the body's CD4 immune cells, which help fight disease. With the right medications, you can have HIV for years or decades without HIV progressing to AIDS. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is diagnosed when you have HIV as well as certain opportunistic infections or your CD4 cell count drops below 200.

Inside a blood vessel. Source: WebMD/Getty

Happy 4th of July; The meaning of independence to an African-born immigrant living in USA.

I stay in one of the most diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco and for the past two weeks I have witnessed activities pointing towards a celebratory mood of the people. Two weeks ago, I got to be reminded of the 4th of July by flying pennants and banners at homes, corner stores and an occasional person with a flag draped over the upper body part. People were preparing themselves for the fourth.

Fast forward, on this day, I happened to take a long stroll around my neighborhood. A barbecue here, popping fireworks there,  more excitement, people wishing each other "happy fourth," more happy fourths exchanged and more merriment to boot.  

The ability for neighborhoods to be venues for celebrating independence and for homes to take charge and be able to conduct homemade events in regard to the fourth reminded me of a contrast between USA and Uganda. I am a Ugandan-born American and have seen both worlds of what it means to celebrate independence.

Happy 4th of July (USA)

Happy October 9th (Uganda)

In Uganda, where I was born, I realized independence celebrations remain the reserve of the government in power.  The mentality of a leader-prophet who knows it all is pervasive.  The government sponsors an event and only invitees attend. Security check points are a must. The opposition is not invited or if invited it is the moderate ones who restrain themselves from making any comment against the sitting government in public. Thus, the celebrations become a platform to list the achievements reached and an opportunity to lump the opposition into refuse destined for disposal. Aggrandizement takes centre stage. The opposition which is never invited also holds 'shadow' celebrations and castigates the sitting government in a manner laced with wistful remarks. The communities have long since done away with burning car-tyres amidst road junctions. The government had to do a lot of messages and police had to apprehend culprits until people changed.

In USA, the communities are allowed to take charge. Independence is so many things. It is the barbecue, the fireworks, the events at community and national level. Most of all it is symbolized by the turkey. Independence is like a meal served at table. Food is so central to independence in USA. In fact, it is said the first fourth of July is when Native Americans shared the little food they had kept to take them through the harsh winters with the pioneers who founded present day USA. The tradition has been kept and that is how it is handed down the subsequent generations. 

As I write this popping sounds and blinding light threaten to shutter ears and blind eyes. I see people moving back and forth happily sharing experiences. Independence is yet another opportunity to bind the Americans together. For me, it is a chance to witness belief in ownership of destiny and autonomy from individual to national levels.