Monongalia County Health Department
  • HOME
  • SERVICES
  • NEWS
    • Press Releases
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MCHD Blog >
      • blog highlights
    • Video Library
    • Health Statistics
    • Training Opportunities
    • Education and Training
    • Posters
  • Dentistry
    • SMILE Express >
      • Portable SMILE Express Location Contact Form
      • SMILE Express Location Contact Form
      • Smile Express Referral Partner
    • Dental Services
    • Make an Appointment
    • Patients >
      • Child First Visit
      • Adult First Visit
      • Payment Options
    • Our Team
    • Contact
    • MCHD Dentistry Blog
  • Environmental
    • Contact Environmental
    • Food
    • Food Safety Training
    • Septic & Wells
    • Housing & Institutions
    • Recreation
    • Pools
    • Tattoo & Body Piercing
    • Rabies Control
    • Clean Indoor Air
    • Radon
    • Disaster Sanitation
    • Tanning
    • Fee Schedule
    • Online Permit Renewal
    • About Environmental Health
  • Nursing
    • Reproductive Health >
      • Family Planning
      • Adolescent Health
    • STD and HIV >
      • Syphilis
    • Immunizations >
      • Travel Clinic
      • School Immunizations
    • Communicable Disease >
      • TB Program
      • Influenza
      • Pertussis
    • Diabetes
    • Providers
  • Preparedness
    • COVID-19
    • Testing & Vaccines
    • COVID-19 Links
    • COVID-19 FAQs
    • COVID-19 Guidance
    • Mon Co. COVID-19 Stats
    • COVID-19 Press Releases
    • Recent Events
  • WIC
    • WIC Services
    • WIC Eligibilty Guidelines
    • WIC News
    • Doddridge County WIC
    • Harrison County WIC
    • Marion County WIC
    • Monongalia County WIC
    • Preston County WIC
    • Taylor County WIC
    • Breastfeeding
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Our Location
    • Board of Health >
      • BOH Meeting Agenda
    • Meeting Rooms
    • Job Opportunities
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
  • Mon Co. QRT
    • QRT Press Releases

World AIDS Day a time to reflect on another epidemic

12/1/2020

 
Picture

World AIDS Day is a time to reflect on another epidemic

By Matt Cimino 

​Today, Dec. 1, is dedicated to battling one of the world’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics. World AIDS Day recognizes the struggles that this disease brings upon people, and celebrates the resilience they have shown in the fight against it.
 
The first differentiation that needs to be made is between HIV and AIDS. Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV for short, is the virus that attacks cells that defend your body from infections. It is spread through bodily fluids of an infected person, unprotected sex and in shared injection drug use.
 
AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It is the condition that comes from extensive immune system damage caused by HIV. As the late stage of HIV, AIDS renders your body unable to defend against other viruses and infections.
 
If your body is unable to defend itself, complications can arise from opportunistic infections. The typical life expectancy of someone with AIDS who does not take HIV medicine is about three years, but life-threatening infections can reduce that time to about one year.
 
HIV testing is very important to halt progression of the virus before it develops into AIDS, and to protect from opportunistic infections. Monongalia County Health Department’s Clinical Services program offers HIV testing. Appointments can be made by calling 304-598-5119. Testing is free and our public health nursing staff members are friendly, non-judgmental and take patient confidentiality very seriously.
 
HIV/AIDS is one of the most significant public health challenges in the world. It is estimated that about 38 million people are living with HIV or AIDS worldwide. While new infections are down about 23% since 2010, prevention goals still miss health experts’ targets.
 
This is a problem that has not left West Virginia untouched. According to AIDSVu, an interactive online map displaying HIV/AIDS prevalence in the U.S., there were approximately 1,891 people in the state living with HIV. Much of these cases are believed to stem from communities abusing injection drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe that about 1 in 10 new HIV diagnoses in the United States stem from this.
 
Sharing needles and syringes presents a very high risk to contract HIV if someone with the virus previously used them. It is transmitted through blood left inside needles, where it can survive for up to 42 days.
 
The best way to reduce this risk is to stop injecting drugs. The battle against HIV/AIDS and substance misuse disorder both involve de-stigmatizing seeking help and treatment. If you do continue to use these drugs, never share needles or other injection equipment. Safely dispose of used needles and obtain sterile ones for each use.
 
Of course, HIV also can be sexually transmitted, so reducing the number of sexual partners and using a condom every time also are key steps to be safer. Alcohol and/or drugs also can lower inhibitions that also can lead individuals to make choices that they would not if they were sober.
 
HIV/AIDS has proven to be a difficult public health problem, and making progress against it takes patience and caution from the public and healthcare providers alike. Stay resilient, and understand the struggles this virus has put people through around the world, in the United States and here in West Virginia.
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance misuse, reach out for help to WV Sober Living at 304-413-4300. 

Matt Cimino is a public information office intern at Monongalia County Health Department.


Comments are closed.
    MCHD logo

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Picture
Lee B. Smith, MD, JD
Health Officer
Monongalia County
Health Department

453 Van Voorhis Road
Morgantown, WV 26505
Hours M-F 8:30-4:30
(304) 598-5100


Home Page
MCHD Services
Public Health Nursing
Environmental Health
WIC Program
MCHD Dentistry
Threat Preparedness
Food Safety Training

Provider Information
Health Statistics

Contact Us
Location/Directions
Training Opportunities
Job Opportunities
Privacy Practices
Website Notices

Contact Us
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter