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In conjunction with World AIDS Day (1 Dec 2008), I’m going to post on some of the top myths that most of us have when it comes to AIDS. A majority of the world population, especially Asians, are ignorant about AIDS and contribute to prejudice and stigma. Well, while there are many myths out there on this disease, here are some of most famous myths as compiled from various resources notably from UNAIDS.

Myth: A woman with HIV infection can’t have children without infecting them.

Reality: Without any treatment, HIV-infected mothers pass HIV to their newborns about 25% of the time. However, with modern treatments, this rate has dropped to only about 2%.

Myth: There is a cure, but only rich people like Magic Johnson can afford it

Reality: Researchers have made great advances but there is still no known cure for HIV/AIDS, although there are several treatments for certain symptoms of the disease. AIDS medication can be very expensive, which is why those living in poverty can’t always get it — and also why it is often easier for those who have money and health insurance to get treatment.

Myth: You only need to get tested if you don’t know your sex partner that well.

Reality: ARE YOU KIDDING? You need to be tested regularly for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active, period. You should especially have yourself checked out if you have had unprotected sex. Of course, avoid having sexual relationships with a partner who never go through medical checkup. You never know what you’re going to get afterwards.

Myth: You can tell someone has AIDS just by looking at them.

Reality: NOT LIKELY. HIV basically progresses in four stages. The first stage is kind of flu-like and people often don’t know they are infected. The second stage is called clinically asymptomatic — it can last as long as ten years and infected people often show no symptoms at all. It’s not until the third stage, when the body’s immune system begins to fail, that symptoms really begin to appear. Stage four is when symptoms become severe and HIV is diagnosed as AIDS.

Myth: Men are more at risk than women.

Reality: Women have surpassed men in new cases of infected people worldwide. Women are biologically, economically and socially more vulnerable to the disease than men.

Myth: You shouldn’t kiss, hug, or share a meal or drink with someone who is HIV positive or has AIDS.

Reality: Here’s the deal, the two main ways young people can get HIV are by having sex with an infected partner or by using a needle or a syringe that has been used by someone who is infected. HIV is present in the blood and sexual fluid of infected people. If either of those things gets into your bloodstream through a cut or open sore, infection may occur.

Myth: It’s really only bad in developing, third-world countries.

Reality: Wrong, AIDS is now a pandemic. How many more people have to die before you consider the HIV/AIDS pandemic "bad"? 10 million? 20 million? It’s a global enemy now. So think twice before you’re trying to avoid this reality.

 

So join in the campaign now. If you can’t help financially,  at the very least do lend a hand in educating the people around you. Wearing Red Ribbon is not enough, go beyond that by helping our society. For bloggers go to Bloggers Unite for World AIDS day for details on how you can help and for those of you in Malaysia, visit Malaysian AIDS Council for details.