253 New Cases of HIV/AIDS

Woke up early today and it's raining outside. I turned on the TV and in the ABS-CBN Radyo-TV show in cable, it said that there are 253 new cases of HIV/AIDS listed last September. 82 of the cases are between the ages of 15-24 and there are 1669 total new cases so far this year, with 2 months remaining, not including October. This means that there is now a new HIV infection EVERY THREE HOURS. Whoa!  I am counted there already. I wonder if this is good news or bad news.. maybe good news that more people are getting tested and maybe bad news that HIV/AIDS incidence in the country is indeed increasing.

Things come into my mind. Where are they now? How are they coping up? How old are they? Who are they reaching out to? How strong is their support system?

I know that it's hard dealing with the reality of finding out that one is positive. Been there done that, as the saying goes. But what's more hard is the fact that once a person becomes positive to the virus, he or she will need to make the commitment about the lifetime monitoring of the progression of his infection, the mental and physical preparation for treatment, the financial burden it may cost  and the conviction that while there is no cure yet, one has the responsibility to prevent the spread of it.

So to the other new 252 pozzies, try to reach out and start reading blogs or do your own researches. There are things to do. It's your health and it's your life. Like what everybody says, HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence now. We can all survive through all the struggles and have a long life.

*** Anybody can email me at pozziepinoy@yahoo.com if you have questions. I don't have all the answers but I do have the time to listen and have a shoulder to lean on to.