HIV Cure - Too Rare and Can Be Lethal

It’s so odd that while great amount of effort and money are being spent in finding HIV cure, the answer goes away just like that. Doctors and the rest of the people in the medical industry who wear nursing scrubs and lab coats were overwhelmed by the case of one patient who was cured of HIV, but at the same time seem to feel frustration by the fact that such procedure is just too risky, even lethal, aside from the fact that finding a person immune to HIV is extremely rare.

The patient cured of HIV is a U.S. man, in his 40’s, who happened to also be a sufferer of myeloid leukemia. His latter disease became the key to his being accidentally cured of the virus that sickened 33.4 million people worldwide with AIDS. The said man received a bone marrow transplant in February 2007 to treat him of cancer of the immune system. Much to their surprise, it also cleared him of HIV.

His own immune system was removed with high-dose chemotherapy and radiation before undergoing stem-cell transplant. At that point, he stopped taking HIV medications. After a span of 13 years, he had a relapse of leukemia that required him to receive another stem-cell transplant, from the same donor. 3 years and 6 months passed, and no sign of HIV replication and leukemia in his system, and his health was back to normal.

How did this happen? The answer is traced back to the bone marrow that he received. His donor has rare genetic mutation that made him naturally resistant of HIV. Sadly, the accidental cure may just remain accidental. Why?

1. The ideal candidates for cure are healthy people, with no leukemia.
2. Only leukemia and lymphoma patients can undergo stem-cell.
3. Totally wiping away of the immune system can be fatal, 30% die of it.
4. Survivors of the stem-cell transplant may suffer hard-to-deal complications, as such with graft versus host disease, wherein the foreign incorporated cell attacks the new host.
5. Possibility of finding compatible match for stem-cell transplant is extremely low, because only 1% of Caucasians carry it.

Papal Stance on Condom Use – Does it teach moral responsibility?

Amid booming population, the Catholic Church was clear that it will not favor contraception. In many predominantly Catholic countries, the issue in condom use has created controversy. In the Philippines, for instance, Catholic priests condemned the move of handling condoms to the public by health officials only a few months back before Pope Benedict the XVI disclosed his stance regarding condom use. Because in this case, I hear what those people in medical uniforms say better. What caught my attention was not the issue on contraception, though, but the level of immorality and morality that the Catholic Church can denounce and tolerate.

“The Pope clarified his stance in an interview with a German journalist, saying that in certain cases, such as for male prostitutes, contraceptives could be a first step in taking moral responsibility for stemming the spread of the virus that causes AIDS,” edmonton.ctv.ca reported. Do prostitutes really take moral responsibility for stemming HIV spread if they use condom? That is merely stemming spread of HIV, but hardly being morally responsible.

On the other hand, the local catholic churches that are ever loyal to opposing contraception, were swift at saying the new stance is not a fundamental shift. But that their allegiance is to abstinence and fidelity is still paramount to their faith. It is highly important for people to practice effective ways of preventing sexually transmitted diseases, and recommending the use of condom is a good move made by the Catholic Church. However, mentioning male prostitutes as examples creates an entirely different idea as to whether the Catholic Church denounces or tolerates prostitution. Or, that, the Catholic Church is really talking about contraception as means of being morally responsible.

I personally don’t know where he based his stance. Was it Bible-based, just another personal view, or simply some words to tickle the ears?

My view of moral responsibility is univocal to doing what is right according to the Bible principles, in whatever aspect of life.

American Teens Smarter than Adults in Condom Use

According to a study on the sexual behavior of Americans, by the Center for Sexual Promotion at Indiana University, teens are smarter than adults in the use of condom. Of the 5,865 respondents, 800 were 17 to 14-year olds. 80 percent of boys and 69 percent of girls of that number said they used condom the last time they had sexual intercourse, compared to less than half of the adult respondents.

With the monumental social changes in the country, such as unwanted pregnancies, AIDS epidemic, cohabitation, and gay rights, it is only normal for people to make changes in their sexual attitudes and resort to some known preventive measures against any unwanted effects resulting from these changes. Along with these changes, the country is also bombarded with pornographic materials, igniting just anyone’s erotic nature. As a result, more people involve themselves in sexual acts more often, including teens. Consequently, problems related to unprotected sex rise uncontrollably. Despite knowledge of these, adults seem to be a lot less wise on this matter than teenagers.

Just what can be done by the use of condom? Hearsays tell condom obstructs with achieving sexual satisfaction. In the same study conducted, 85 percent of men and two-thirds of women experienced orgasm. Could it be because adults think they can easily handle the results, while teenagers want to avoid any responsibilities as much as possible? Whatever the reason is the use of condom or practicing protected sex can still improve people’s odds. Condom primarily protects from sexually transmitted diseases, and had 98% efficient in preventing pregnancies.

For a teenager, losing virginity is an important turning point of life, wherein the use of condom can have a significant value. However, sex abstinence until marriage still has the best benefits. For couples or partners who are determined to be responsible on their sex life but are unsure about the benefits of using condom, a talk with an OB gyne will clear any doubts. Couples can choose to see a professional in womens scrubs if both feel they would be more comfortable in talking the matter with a female. But whatever gender wears those scrub tops and scrub pants, the important thing is that they can become more responsible in their sex lives.

World Leaders Commit to Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health

A decade ago, anti-poverty goals were adopted, and now ways of implementation are being reviewed to push the “Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.” It’s the project that Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg calls as the key to lasting safety and future security – an effort to save lives from unnecessary deaths of women and children.

World leaders have shown considerable interest in the project, suggesting ways on how to make the project successful and reassuring fulfillment of commitments. U.S. Pres. Barack Obama said, “We will keep our promises and honor our commitments.” In the face of crisis in the global economy, he believes that even the poorest countries can advance the prosperity and security of people far beyond borders.

Just what are these commitments? Governments and nonprofit agencies committed to provide $40 billion dollars that would finance ways of saving 16 million lives of women and children in the next 5 years. On the other hand, deep concerns arose about getting budget as the world struggles with bad economy. Presently, there is an estimated 8 million deaths among children less than 5 years of age, and about 350, 000 women who die during pregnancy and childbirth. Mostly are among the 1 billion people living in less than $1.25 per day.



UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made emphasis on cutting extreme poverty by half through universal primary education as well as by halting and reversing HIV/AIDS pandemic. He said with certainty that the 21st century must be and will be different. Ban’s optimism is shared with by Josette Sheeran, executive director of the U.N.’s World Food Program. She said that the most powerful intervention hunger and poverty is to ensure women have access to food so they can build a future for their children, for themselves, and for their villages. Further, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Rwandan Pres. Paul Kagame, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, as well as Tanzanian PM Mizengo Pinda spoke of ways to tackle maternal and mortality, including childbirth assistance training among midwives and other health care workers, inexpensive vaccine for diseases causing needless deaths among small children.

While there can be access to food and basic health needs, we know that governmental and societal disease could block implementation. As a result, many of those in need are still not able to receive what they most necessitate. Former Chilean Pres. Michelle Bachelet saw solution in making women’s issues a human rights issue, putting emphasis on women’s equality and reduction of deaths among women in pregnancy and childbirth. She said huge commitment to work harder is needed to make big advances on the goals.

In developed countries, the needed information in caring for pregnant women and children are readily available. Even in some third world countries, local health care workers are capable of educating the public. In many lands, vaccines that would protect children from diseases are being administered. Sadly, not all people have access to these valuable information and basic health needs.

Witnessing needless deaths of women and children are unwanted scenes enveloping tales of the less fortunate people. Needless because their deaths are preventable, and the world has the solutions almost 100 years already. However, millions of women and children still die unnecessarily. If you are a health care worker able to see this unfortunate reality, you may as well dedicate sometime of your profession extending them help. But we neither have to be in Cherokee scrubs or Landau scrubs to be able to help, nor should we simply let the government do their job. In our own simple ways, we can directly offer our help by means of providing awareness and financial aid.