Get Informed! Aids fact sheet

THAILAND

-The first case of AIDS in Thailand occurred in 1984

-In 2000, combinations of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) started to be used to treat people living with HIV in Thailand. This therapy, known as HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), can prolong the lives of people living with HIV and prevent the virus from progressing to AIDS. In subsequent years the number of people accessing ARVs increased dramatically, significantly reducing the number of people dying from AIDS.

-Estimated total population, July 2005 - 64 millions

-Estimated total number of people living with HIV, end 2005 - 580,000

CANADA (facts from Health Canada)

-Over a period of years, HIV weakens the body's immune system to the point where it can no longer fight infection. On average, it takes 10 years to progress from an initial HIV infection to AIDS. People with HIV can live for a number of years with no external sign or symptom of the disease, and may unknowingly infect others. The only way to know if you have the virus is to have an HIV blood test.

-When the body can no longer fight infection, the disease is known as AIDS. The infections associated with AIDS are called "opportunistic" because they take advantage of the body's weakened immune system. It is the opportunistic infection, and not AIDS, that causes death.

-At the end of 2002, Health Canada estimated there were approximately 56,000 people in Canada living with HIV (including those living with AIDS), and that approximately 17,000 or 30% were not aware that they were infected. Estimated population at this time was around 31 million.

-It can be difficult for those who are infected with HIV to find a drug regimen that works for them. There are often drug-related side effects that greatly reduce their quality of life. Long term use of drug therapies can also cause organ damage, heart disease, diabetes and other health problems. Moreover, some treatments are beginning to fail because of drug resistance by new strains of the virus.

Since yesterday I have been doing a lot of research on the topic of AIDS because I felt I had very little knowledge about this global issue. It really is a crisis. In sub-sahara Africa, where the epidemic has reached is height, millions of people are dying. Every country in the world including Canada have many citizens dealing and living with AIDS yet most of us know very little about it. I have had the opportunity to put a face to the disease and understand to some degree the effects. during my time. These experiences have left me with optimism and at the same time great sadness. I have seen the positive effects of medications and how they can prolong the lives of the patients here. I have also seen the sadness at the inevitability of death due to their weakening bodies. I have a lot more to say but I must leave to teach. This post will have to be concluded another time. I ask that those who read this will pray for the patients here at Mercy and the AIDS sufferers around the world. They are people just like you and me. They have family's and at one time worked a job, read the newspaper and complained about the weather.

Sending love from Thailand,
Misty