|
(BRASS) Baton Rouge AIDS Society
Baton
Rouge AIDS Society is a community-based AIDS Service Organization (ASO) serving as a primary source of help to people
who are infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS virus. Such organization provides thousands of hours of care and prevention
to the AIDS community. Baton Rouge AIDS Society (BRASS) serves as
a testing and training provider to the state of Louisiana, with special emphasis on the Greater Baton Rouge area, offering
avenues which foster ethical, personal, social-emotional and intellectual development. Through Baton
Rouge AIDS Society (BRASS), Trinity Outreach Ministry is a part of the "Faith-based AIDS Coalition
for Technical assistance and Services"(F.A.C.T.S.), a program that offers technical assistance and capacity-building
services to twelve carefully selected faith-based minority-serving communities located in high-risk, socioeconomically disadvantaged
areas of Baton Rouge where HIV/AIDS services are most needed, yet inaccessible.
HIV/AIDS
WHAT ARE HIV AND AIDS?
HIV
is the virus that causes AIDS. It is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Usually a person has the virus for months or years
before any signs of illness appear. It slowly weakens the body's ability to fight off illness. People with AIDS can have serious
infections and cancers. These illnesses make them very sick and can eventually kill them.
HISTORY OF
HIV/AIDS
1981
About 401 cases of this new syndrome were reported in the U.S. The first working
name for the epidemic was Gay Related Immune Deficiency (GRID). At this stage, the scientific evidence was missing to identify
the infectious agent and to verify the transmission routes.
1987
AZT was licensed by the FDA as the first
drug to combat HIV directly.
1991
In November, Magic Johnson announced that he was infected with HIV.
1994
A clinical trial on the use of AZT showed that prenatal HIV transmission from mother to child could be
greatly reduced.
1995
The FDA offered preliminary approval to Saquinavir, the first of a new class of antiretroviral
drugs called protease inhibitors. Trials were instituted to test “cocktail” (combinations of different classes
of drugs) approaches to treatment.
1996
The FDA recommended that blood banks and plasma centers add a test
for the p24 antigen. Oral fluid testing using EIA and Western Blot methods was approved by the FDA.
COMMON
MISPERCEPTIONS ABOUT HIV TRANSMISSION
Kissing! Because of the potential for contact with blood during
“French” kissing, the CDC recommends against engaging in this activity with a person known to be infected.
Saliva! Saliva, tears and sweat – HIV has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities from some AIDS
patients. It is important to understand that finding a small amount of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that
HIV can be transmitted by that fluid.
Insect! Unlike yellow fever and malaria, HIV doesn’t live for long
periods of time or reproduce inside the insect. Furthermore, a mosquito does not inject its own or a previously bitten person’s
blood when it bites someone.
|
