HIV-Positive Student Educates Youth On World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day Celebrates 20 Years
Updated: 6:49 am CST December 2,2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Dec. 1 marked the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportAccording to Wisconsin's Department of Health Services, recent estimates for the U.S. indicate that the HIV epidemic is much larger than previously assumed and that it is growing at alarming rates among certain individuals and communities.More than 33 million persons worldwide are living with HIV and some 7,300 individuals are infected daily. Since 1983, more than 10,200 people in Wisconsin have been diagnosed with HIV infection and more than 3,680 have died, WISC-TV reported.Currently, the state has reached an all-time high with more than 6,500 people assumed to be living with HIV/AIDS in Wisconsin.HIV has always been a part of Ashlin Ware's life."Having HIV is not a death sentence," said Ware.Ware, who is now 20, was born with HIV."I was called AIDS girl," said Ware. "I was told I couldn't play with my friends anymore."On the surface, the UW-Madison student seems strong and confident."I'm scared of lonely, so scared of being alone," said Ware. "Four letters keep me lonely, an acronym never meant to keep any friends -- only ones living six feet in."Ware lost both a mother and father to AIDS."Sometimes, I feel like I'm tired of fighting this fight," said Ware. "Over the past few months, my immune system has been very compromised."Living with HIV forced Ware to grow up early. Ware spoke publicly about living with HIV for the first time at age 7.In seventh grade, Ware appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about being kicked out of a private elementary school for being HIV positive."The board decided to not let me attend the school for my fifth-grade year, and after that, I really became afraid of telling anyone I had HIV," Ware said.Ware now volunteers time talking about HIV and AIDS with young people, an age group that UW doctors report sometimes has an alarming complacency with the disease."They come in, they're not doing too bad, then they don't show up for say a couple of years. Then, they're really sick," said Dr. Frank Graziano.Graziano has been treating HIV and AIDS patients since 1984. He said that ironically life-saving advancements in treatment have radically changed some patient's attitudes."They think that they're sort of they're not going to die, this is not a major issue and I can come in at any time, and we're going to do OK," said Graziano. "That's not what the data is showing. The data is showing the earlier you treat, the better you do."Ware understands the attitude. Ware opted for a two-year medical break by stopping all medications after starting college"You have to be mentally prepared to take on such a toll because the medications do give you terrible side effects," said Ware.Ware's mother's memory inspires her to keep fighting to be sure no one else becomes infected."I didn't have a choice to get HIV, but you do," said Ware. "Everyone that is HIV negative has a choice to not become positive and I hope that they make the right choice."The AIDS Network–Madison on Williamson Street offers free, anonymous screening for HIV. The facility's hours are Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The phone number is 608-252-6540The number of people living with HIV continues to grow as new infections occur, as HIV treatments successfully extend life and as deaths decrease among persons living with HIV.Officials said that people who may be at risk for HIV infection and can benefit from HIV testing are those who:had unprotected sex with someone with HIV infection injected drugs or shared injection equipment (such as needles, syringes, cotton, water) with others have been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD) like syphilis or gonorrhea exchanged sex for drugs or money received a blood transfusion or clotting factor between 1978 and 1985 had unprotected sex, especially with anyone who is part of the risk groups listed above. For More Info:
VIDEO: Watch The ReportAccording to Wisconsin's Department of Health Services, recent estimates for the U.S. indicate that the HIV epidemic is much larger than previously assumed and that it is growing at alarming rates among certain individuals and communities.More than 33 million persons worldwide are living with HIV and some 7,300 individuals are infected daily. Since 1983, more than 10,200 people in Wisconsin have been diagnosed with HIV infection and more than 3,680 have died, WISC-TV reported.Currently, the state has reached an all-time high with more than 6,500 people assumed to be living with HIV/AIDS in Wisconsin.HIV has always been a part of Ashlin Ware's life."Having HIV is not a death sentence," said Ware.Ware, who is now 20, was born with HIV."I was called AIDS girl," said Ware. "I was told I couldn't play with my friends anymore."On the surface, the UW-Madison student seems strong and confident."I'm scared of lonely, so scared of being alone," said Ware. "Four letters keep me lonely, an acronym never meant to keep any friends -- only ones living six feet in."Ware lost both a mother and father to AIDS."Sometimes, I feel like I'm tired of fighting this fight," said Ware. "Over the past few months, my immune system has been very compromised."Living with HIV forced Ware to grow up early. Ware spoke publicly about living with HIV for the first time at age 7.In seventh grade, Ware appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show to talk about being kicked out of a private elementary school for being HIV positive."The board decided to not let me attend the school for my fifth-grade year, and after that, I really became afraid of telling anyone I had HIV," Ware said.Ware now volunteers time talking about HIV and AIDS with young people, an age group that UW doctors report sometimes has an alarming complacency with the disease."They come in, they're not doing too bad, then they don't show up for say a couple of years. Then, they're really sick," said Dr. Frank Graziano.Graziano has been treating HIV and AIDS patients since 1984. He said that ironically life-saving advancements in treatment have radically changed some patient's attitudes."They think that they're sort of they're not going to die, this is not a major issue and I can come in at any time, and we're going to do OK," said Graziano. "That's not what the data is showing. The data is showing the earlier you treat, the better you do."Ware understands the attitude. Ware opted for a two-year medical break by stopping all medications after starting college"You have to be mentally prepared to take on such a toll because the medications do give you terrible side effects," said Ware.Ware's mother's memory inspires her to keep fighting to be sure no one else becomes infected."I didn't have a choice to get HIV, but you do," said Ware. "Everyone that is HIV negative has a choice to not become positive and I hope that they make the right choice."The AIDS Network–Madison on Williamson Street offers free, anonymous screening for HIV. The facility's hours are Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The phone number is 608-252-6540The number of people living with HIV continues to grow as new infections occur, as HIV treatments successfully extend life and as deaths decrease among persons living with HIV.Officials said that people who may be at risk for HIV infection and can benefit from HIV testing are those who:Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
