Blog: I recently read "The Naked Truth" by Marvelyn Brown. For those of you who haven't read it I reccomend it. In the book Marvelyn describes the sitgmas and hardships that someone with HIV must face everyday. She became quite an HIV activist which lead her to speak out about HIV/AIDS on national television. Although she was some what of a celebrity she still faced alot of adversity. I recall one portion of her story where she changed jobs and no longer had health insurance. Without health insurance she couldn't afford her medication to fight HIV. Finnally through a government program she was able to get her medication after 4 weeks of not taking it. I thought this was terrible that someone infected by HIV couldn't even get the proper medication to fight it. I guess this is something that probably happens all the time in the US and with our current medical reform it is something that will not be fixed any time soon.
Brown, M., & Martin, M. (2009). The Naked Truth: Young Beautiful and (HIV) Positive. New York , NY: Harper Collins.
DYK: Keeping with my topic this week I found a list with how states go about teaching STD/HIV education and prevention in public school. I was shocked to see that there are some states where it is not madatory to have any sex education at all. This list shows if the state policy should teach about abstinence and contraception. Also, is shows weather or not the student's parents can have the option to take their students out of the sex education. Almost all of the states give the parents the right to take their children out, which I feel is the right thing to do. Abstinence should not be the main focus of our education but knowledge. However, students in Arkansas can not be taken out for the lesson and abstinence is fully stressed with no education about contraception. Therefore in Arkansas students don't have an option but to conform. I posted the link underneath so you can check it out.
http://www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_SE.pdf
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Isn't horrible that some like her couldn't afford medication. For others like her in that situation there are so many organizations that help with finiancial needs, housing,and support and counseling.
ReplyDeleteI think that not being able to afford the medication is a huge problem. My brother is HIV positive and he just tells me that the cost is incredible. I sometimes think wow I would die if I couldnt afford the medicaiton. There should be something done. I'm sick of seeing how hollywood spends money on stupid stuff and ordinary people are dieing of aid due to money issues.
ReplyDeleteEvery day many people have to make the deicsion to pay bill, eat or buy their medications. The present health care system forces these decisions upon people because the cost of drugs are so high. I understand the company that made the drug needs to make a profit, but to make it 1000 times over at the expense of someone's health is criminal.
ReplyDeleteHere in Florida sex education varies by county. In Seminole county you can't talk about condoms or contraceptives. In Orange county you can talk about each but you can't demonstrate how to use a condom. That will only change when someone in power loses a close family memeber and that death could have been prevented with reality education.