Conversation Blog: HIV/AIDS (November 2010)

[IPJC Office]

Join the conversation on HIV/AIDS and Global Health.
-Post an update and photo from your Justice Cafe
-Share an insight, question or action idea
-Interact with young adults from across the U.S. and in Africa
Click here to post a comment

[Arianna Cane]

We held our first Justice Cafe at Western Washington University yesterday evening and it was very successful! Many of us were unaware of the true magnitude of AIDS and HIV all over the world, as well as the groups of people that were being affected by the pandemic. We discussed the issues with health care, social stigma, and social distance that only seem to exacerbate the already existing problems with the disease. In addition, the large improvements in this area that can be achieved by education to women and clean medical supplies in "third world countries" were encouraging to our group as well as a call to action.
Some of the participants knew of ways our local community was reaching out to those suffering with AIDS/HIV that they shared with us and we brainstormed ways that our group could help combat the problem, specifically focusing on an activity of campus for the upcoming World AIDS Day.

[Kariuki Wa Muthoni]

Arianna, i agree with you that women in third world countries need education & clean medical supplies, but this also affects men too.
We are looking forward for coming sunday when we'll be discussing HIV & AIDS. It's true that HIV has the face of a beautiful woman!! LET'S TAKE SIMPLE CARE.

[Arianna Cane]

[Susan Francois, CSJP]

Looks like a great group for your first Justice Cafe at Western Washington U!

[Kariuki Wa Muthoni]

a very happy group!

[IPJC Office]

From the Kenyan Justice Cafe: "This month’s café saw a bigger number of participants and the progress is amazing! ... Participants observed that it was hard to come to terms with the people infected world wide which amounted to thirty three (33) Million. This figure is close to three quarters of Kenyan population" Read the full report here

[Raphael Wanjaria Njararuhi]

We getting bigger and better!

[IPJC Office]

From the Justice Cafe at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington: The cafe went well last night. The number of cases of HIV/AIDS in the US (over 1 million) and the sorry percentage of people receiving treatment (5 million of 33 worldwide) hit home with people.

[Jessica Escobar]

On Wednesday, November 17, HNU students gathered to discuss the topic of HIV/ Aids. The conversation started by students raising questions such as “what is the difference between HIV/ Aids?”
Upon reflection, students were very open about the fact that while we had all arrived feeling knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, after reading the facts presented to us, we were surprised to learn that many of us had incorrect preconceived notions about it. Those of us who had memory of the awareness movement in the ‘90’s realized how much we had forgotten, and how much things had changed in recent years. Younger students expressed a general feeling that the disease was an issue that was relevant back then but not as much now. They confessed that while they had general knowledge of the disease, they didn’t know a lot of concrete facts. Everyone walked away from the café feeling more informed than when they had arrived.

The access to a medical treatment was a source of concern to HNU students. Medicine is expensive and either people cannot afford it or cannot afford health care insurance.
After the conversation, students felt empowered to take actions. Education was the key word for the night. As citizens, students wanted spread the word in their community about risky behaviors, treatments available, and myths surrounding the disease.

[IPJC Office]

From the Justice Cafe in St. Louis, MO (pictured above):
We met at a local nonprofit cafe in downtown St. Louis and shared our experiences with the topic, as well as frustrations with the disparities that exist with access to health care. ... We also talked about action steps that are connected with local work for AIDS Day on Dec 1.