| | HIV Rocks Liberian Community |  |
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krazzy
Number of posts: 2353
Say Whatever: your best friend can be your worst enemy and so forth..lol
My Mood: 
Points: 1735
Registration date: 2008-04-07
| | Subject: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:20 pm | |
| Liberians in Minnesota have once again been hit hard by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. According to statistics recently released by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Liberians remain one of the largest African communities in Minnesota with a high number of its citizens living with HIV/AIDS. Almost ten Liberians were diagnosed with HIV in 2007; this does not include HIV-infected Liberian refugees resettled to Minnesota through the federally funded HIV Resettlement Program.
This is especially troubling since Liberian immigrants dominate the allied-healthcare industry in Minnesota. But, ironically the community has the unenviable distinction of being one of the largest sufferers of HIV/AIDS in the state.
Liberia is ranked second on a list of six African countries in Minnesota with the highest rate of new infections, a position it has held steady in the last five years. The number one position is held by Kenya, knocking out Ethiopia, which is now down to number four on the list. However, Ethiopians have the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota at 189, followed by Liberians 109, Kenyans 97, Somalis 65, Cameroonians 61, and Sudanese with 44 cases.
'We need to have an open and honest discourse about HIV/AIDS within the community', said Dr. Alfredmy Chessor, a Liberian and Family Physician at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in downtown Minneapolis. 'Community leaders of all backgrounds are essential to getting the conversation started.'
MDH officials believe that the high rate of infections among African immigrants may be due to cultural and language barriers, stigma, and lack of access to health care services. 'We can't hide from this virus. It is here and we need to deal with it head on,' stressed Dr. Chessor, who recently returned from where she delivered medical supplies and volunteered at the J.F.Kennedy Medical Center.
She advised: 'Liberians need to get tested in order to know their status, but more importantly remain in committed, faithful relationships.' 'The ramifications of people who are sexually active but not monogamous within the population makes risky sexual behavior a terrible game of Russian Roulette. For example, how can a young adult be assured that his or her partner is not infected without being tested?' asked Rev. Mark Nordell, executive director of SARX, a local community-based organization that seeks to empower African immigran ts. 'It's a difficult and complex query and conversation for anyone to carry on, but so necessary to protect oneself.'
New cases overall reported are the highest since 1995 with 30 percent of those cases belonging to people less than 30 years old, creating an urgent need for a robust community HIV prevention program. Many young adults may have adopted a false sense that HIV is a curable or manageable disease.
'Africans are shouldering the brunt of the disease,' said Luisa Pessoa-Brandão, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Coordinator at MDH. 'Even though Africans account for less than one percent of the state population, they represent 15 percent of new diagnoses.' She added that 14 percent of African women with HIV were diagnosed while going through pre-natal care. |
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Edina
Number of posts: 589
Age: 90
My Mood: 
Points: 155
Registration date: 2008-04-10
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:29 pm | |
| Krazzy, taking this to Liberia: How easy is it to get tested? Is it free or does it cost a lot?
If a person tests positive, what's the next step? |
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candygirl
Admin
Number of posts: 5911
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Say Whatever: Laughter is the best medicine
My Mood: 
Points: 2226
Registration date: 2008-03-31
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:37 pm | |
| small small, with more awareness, more programs on radios, etc, people will be come more bold, accpeting of Aids...
Lady E, i think most ( if not all) hospitals offer the tests and have guidance couselors if a person is neg.
_________________
For how can love attain true appreciation
if it has never weathered tribulation?
~MHK
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krazzy
Number of posts: 2353
Say Whatever: your best friend can be your worst enemy and so forth..lol
My Mood:
Points: 1735
Registration date: 2008-04-07
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:43 pm | |
| lady! morning o! Voluntary Testing Centers have increased since 2002, with help from faith-based organizations, the government (national AIDS control program) and other ngos, like candy mentioned. the next steps-people living positively have acess to ARVs-free of charge. however the actual cost is for transportation, food, and opprotunistic infections. most people don't have access to resources to purchase these. | Edina wrote: | Krazzy, taking this to Liberia: How easy is it to get tested? Is it free or does it cost a lot?
If a person tests positive, what's the next step? |
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candygirl
Admin
Number of posts: 5911
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Say Whatever: Laughter is the best medicine
My Mood:
Points: 2226
Registration date: 2008-03-31
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:58 pm | |
| Krazzy, do they actually have institutions that give out free AVRs?
_________________
For how can love attain true appreciation
if it has never weathered tribulation?
~MHK
Last edited by candygirl on Thu May 01, 2008 12:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Edina
Number of posts: 589
Age: 90
My Mood:
Points: 155
Registration date: 2008-04-10
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:02 pm | |
| Slowly slowly, I know.... At least the free of charge part is a start. |
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krazzy
Number of posts: 2353
Say Whatever: your best friend can be your worst enemy and so forth..lol
My Mood:
Points: 1735
Registration date: 2008-04-07
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:02 pm | |
| ARVs are free-to the best of my knowledge so evey hospital-ELWA, Catholic, Phebe- gives them out free of charge | candygirl wrote: | | Korto, do they actually have institutions that give out free AVRs? |
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candygirl
Admin
Number of posts: 5911
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Say Whatever: Laughter is the best medicine
My Mood:
Points: 2226
Registration date: 2008-03-31
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:30 pm | |
| | krazzy wrote: | ARVs are free-to the best of my knowledge so evey hospital-ELWA, Catholic, Phebe- gives them out free of charge
| candygirl wrote: | | Korto, do they actually have institutions that give out free AVRs? |
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didnt know they give them out at hospitals... thats good. very good.
one day soon people will be causual about AIDs.....
"cant come to work today, my AIDs acting up, you know how it is" 
_________________
For how can love attain true appreciation
if it has never weathered tribulation?
~MHK
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krazzy
Number of posts: 2353
Say Whatever: your best friend can be your worst enemy and so forth..lol
My Mood:
Points: 1735
Registration date: 2008-04-07
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:32 pm | |
| some day...yes. right na, some of dey hospital dem lor act messed up, giving special color cards to people living positively. so when dey see yr red card, they know u are positive. in any case, they have support groups..close to ten around liberia. this is the primary structure when it comes to medical and psychological support. | candygirl wrote: | | krazzy wrote: | ARVs are free-to the best of my knowledge so evey hospital-ELWA, Catholic, Phebe- gives them out free of charge
| candygirl wrote: | | Korto, do they actually have institutions that give out free AVRs? |
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didnt know they give them out at hospitals... thats good. very good.
one day soon people will be causual about AIDs.....
"cant come to work today, my AIDs acting up, you know how it is" |
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candygirl
Admin
Number of posts: 5911
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Say Whatever: Laughter is the best medicine
My Mood:
Points: 2226
Registration date: 2008-03-31
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:46 pm | |
| | krazzy wrote: | some day...yes. right na, some of dey hospital dem lor act messed up, giving special color cards to people living positively. so when dey see yr red card, they know u are positive. in any case, they have support groups..close to ten around liberia. this is the primary structure when it comes to medical and psychological support.
| candygirl wrote: | | krazzy wrote: | ARVs are free-to the best of my knowledge so evey hospital-ELWA, Catholic, Phebe- gives them out free of charge
| candygirl wrote: | | Korto, do they actually have institutions that give out free AVRs? |
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didnt know they give them out at hospitals... thats good. very good.
one day soon people will be causual about AIDs.....
"cant come to work today, my AIDs acting up, you know how it is" |
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didnt know that.. that not cool at all.. anyway.. hopefully they correct that soon.
AIDS is just another uncutrable illness.... once we can get passed that initial horror associated with it.. the stigmatising will reduce
_________________
For how can love attain true appreciation
if it has never weathered tribulation?
~MHK
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bellah
Number of posts: 1571
Say Whatever: \
Points: 3217
Registration date: 2008-04-03
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:20 pm | |
| AIDS means American Intention to destroy Sex...However it is alarming that we have the virus spreading in our community. I think we have to encourage people especiallyy Liberian to start having save sex. But most Liberian people can say de en like it oh...Awarenessssssssssssssssssssss will help the problem. Thank God there are medication to help slow down the virus but very expensive oh.... |
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KWAME
Number of posts: 36
My Mood: 
Points: 0
Registration date: 2008-04-25
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:58 pm | |
| Good pepo, if you man, find one woman,if you woman find one man. If you want to eat so,eat so, make sure you get plastic,plastic 8) |
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Nica
Number of posts: 1026
Age: 52
Location: Nashville
Say Whatever: Yes We Did!
My Mood: 
Points: 663
Registration date: 2008-04-01
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:09 am | |
| | bellah wrote: | | AIDS means American Intention to destroy Sex... |
Hmmm...not sure I understand da one dere.  What make it America's attempt? And would it not be more correct to say,"intent to destroy society"?
Cause it is obvious that NOTHING will stop people from having sex, not even a disease that has and will continue to take millions of lives. |
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candygirl
Admin
Number of posts: 5911
Location: Monrovia, Liberia
Say Whatever: Laughter is the best medicine
My Mood:
Points: 2226
Registration date: 2008-03-31
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:12 am | |
| | Nica wrote: | | bellah wrote: | | AIDS means American Intention to destroy Sex... |
Hmmm...not sure I understand da one dere. What make it America's attempt? And would it not be more correct to say,"intent to destroy society"?
Cause it is obvious that NOTHING will stop people from having sex, not even a disease that has and will continue to take millions of lives. |
hahaha.. Nica.. the interpretation of AIDS as bellah described above is a standing Liberian joke...
_________________
For how can love attain true appreciation
if it has never weathered tribulation?
~MHK
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Edina
Number of posts: 589
Age: 90
My Mood:
Points: 155
Registration date: 2008-04-10
| | Subject: Re: HIV Rocks Liberian Community Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:15 am | |
| ahhh, so that's what we joke about back home? hmmmm well i do agree with the safe sex part. | bellah wrote: | | AIDS means American Intention to destroy Sex...However it is alarming that we have the virus spreading in our community. I think we have to encourage people especiallyy Liberian to start having save sex. But most Liberian people can say de en like it oh...Awarenessssssssssssssssssssss will help the problem. Thank God there are medication to help slow down the virus but very expensive oh.... |
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| | HIV Rocks Liberian Community | |
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