NCWC studetn answers to questions submitted by KU students
From Ashley Harris -- Responses to Daisy Okoth’s questions:
1. Yes we do have youth movements in our country. An African-American television network launched a “Wrap it up” campaign towards youth of all ethnicities to promote sage sex in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. There are also organizations that promote abstinence in order to protect individuals from STDs such as HIV/AIDS.
2. I would like to think that HIV/AIDS has had an affect on the way in which the American youth perceive the disease. However, it is very evident, especially among African-American youth, that statistically there has been an increase in the number of infected individuals in the U.S., primarily as a result of having unprotected sex. I believe that not just youth, but society as a whole, do not realize how serious the issue of AIDS really is. Of course people are aware of the presence of HIV in our communities, but the fail to recognize how important it is when concerning themselves.
3. Yes we do have voluntary counseling and testing sites. BET (Black Entertainment Television) sponsors centers across the country that offer counseling, either in person, or over the phone, as well as free testing sites. There is also a mobile health clinic that regularly visits our campus here at NCWC, that offers free HIV/AIDS testing.
From Erin Bryant –- answers to Paul Mwangi questions:
What is your perception towards Aids in Africa?
My honest perception is that AIDS in Africa is wide spread. Here in America, you hear all the time about AIDS cases in Africa and it somewhat makes you believe that almost every body has it. Now I know that that's by no means true, but as the media and books portrays it, it seems the exact opposite.
What do you know about Kenya that interests you a lot?
The wildlife as well as the culture interests me to no end. First of all, I love animals. I would love to have the opportunity to work with or among animals. The culture; i love learning about new cultures completely different from my own. I find it extremely interesting to read/learn as to how people from other cultures go about their daily lives. Also the languages. To me, foreign languages are amazing! I want to learn as many as I can before I die. It's interesting as to how they came to be and how many words relate back to my own language.
How do you perceive education in Kenya?
When I think of Kenya or Africa in general my first thought is under developed, economically, educationally, civilization. So when you ask how do I perceive education, my first thought is that it is highly under developed with not many opportunities to continue and further your education, if you have a chance at education. After having read your profile along with your classmates, I was honestly amazed at the ambitions you hold, and I highly applaud you for those. For your ambitions, I'm sure, are at a much higher bar than some people I know.
Would you like to visit Kenya?
What would you like to confirm? I would love to have the opportunity to visit Kenya. One of my great dreams in life is to travel, anywhere and everywhere. I would just like to see the landscape, animals, way of life, I'd want to see everything!
What food does students like in states?
Well, personally, I LOVE food. I love fruits like watermelon, strawberries, apples, grapes. And I absolutely ADORE junk food; pizza, chips, candy. I really like anything that I can get my hands on. I really like Italian foods like pizza, pasta's those sorts of things. Food is GREAT!!
How does government fight the epidemic in U.S. especially at the institutions?
There is a lot of preaching about abstinence or if you must use protection. The main advertising that I see towards AIDS is for condoms. But there are several medications that a person can take once they are infected that try and reverse the virus. Mostly the drugs are for maintaining the virus and still being able to live a somewhat healthy life.
What is your perception in Africa as it relates to hunger, corruption, Politics and drought?
As I mentioned earlier, when I think of Africa i think under developed. I tend to think that more people starve in Africa than those who are actually food wise healthy. I honestly don't know too much about Politics besides that your political system is much like outs. And if I'm correct I think that there are rainy season there and thats about the only rain that you get.
What do you think or feel is good in Africa or Kenya?
The culture! It's so true, or at least I think so. With influences from other ares at a minimum. Here there are all different types of influences that you see on a daily bases. And when i think of Africa, I don't see that.
From Alisha Nelson –- answers to Bristone's Questions:
2. In your college how is HIV/AIDS incorporated in the college curriculum.
At the college I attend, HIV/AIDS is not incorporated in the college curriculum. I think it is due in part to the fact that many people have become cautious and are aware of the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
3. Do you believe in the accuracy of HIV/AIDS tests in the hospitals and medical centers?
Yes, I do believe in the accuracy of HIV/AIDS tests in the hospitals and medical centers. I believe that there have been a great deal of advancements in modern medicine to accurately detect if someone has HIV/AIDS.
From Jessica Kremidas –- answers to Doreen’s questions:
1. What do you know about Kenya?
Answer: Kenya has an extensive landscape consisting of plateaus, mountains, and flat lands. Many ethnic groups make their home in, Kenya. After gaining independence in 1963, Kenya’s government went from a monarchy under British rule, to having a president as the pinnacle figure of both state and government. Between 1964 until 1991 Kenya was a single party state, but in 1991 the Kenyan government allowed the existence of numerous political parties. In 1992, Kenya held its first presidential election. Kenya’s economy was initially farming, herding, hunting, and local trade, but under the British throne, Kenya developed an economy constructed on its export of agricultural goods.
2. What is your role in the helping the students who are infected in the campus?
Answer: Since I am also a student learning about the cause and effect of both HIV and Aids, my job is to research how HIV enters the human body and develops into full blown Aids. My research presentation is going to be on diagnosing HIV and Aids. In my talk I will speak on how the virus enters the body and the different levels of HIV infection. I will also discuss various tests that the human blood goes through when being analyzed for the HIV virus and Aids. My discussion will touch base on few of the secondary infections that Aids victim’s encounter. From Jessica – answer to Bristone’s questions
3. What is the role of university and college students in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the society?
Answer: One role that both college students and universities play in the fight against HIV and Aids is to make people aware of how HIV enters the body and the effects of the disease. Not many people truly understand the cause and effects of the HIV infection and the AIDS disease; they hear the information but they believe that it can not happen to them. Also the importance of safe sex needs to be addressed in schools as early as elementary education. People need to be told time and again the hoarer of this serious killer.
4. Do you believe in the accuracy of HIV/AIDS tests in the hospitals and medical centers?
Answer: I believe that there is room for improvement. The ELISA test is only 99.9% accurate which leaves room for a faults positive and faults negative.
From Ahmad B. Crudup –- answers to Dorothy Kimani's Questions:
1. Me personally, I don’t hold any bad feelings toward Homosexuals when it comes to spreading the HIV/Aids virus. Because although they are considered to be the cause and reason for the virus being so wide spread in the United States, our society tends to unfairly label them. When if we take a closer look at the numbers you would see that the number of HIV outbreaks in the homosexual community has steadily decreased while numbers in the heterosexual community has been the complete opposite; climbing higher every year. So I feel that, we should stop trying to blame homosexuals for the spreading of the virus when it is the heterosexual community that is mostly responsible for the virus being so wide spread in the states.
2. I would say so, I don’t know for a fact if it actually does but I strongly believe that it happens. In the United States people don’t really have the facts on exactly how HIV/Aids affects people and the ways the virus can actually be spread. When most people come into contact with someone with it they automatically treat the person as if they are trying to give it to them so they stay away , not wanting to shake hands, or touch anything that has come into contact with that person. When if they had the facts they would know that it can’t be spread by shaking hands or anything like that especially in the work place where people tend to be most narrow minded.
