A GREAT CHANGE IN MY MIND When I was 10 years old, important information was received by me.

This information would be very useful for me in my life. Fourteen years ago, my first class about HIV/ AIDS was taken in my school. In those days I didnt have much information on the subject. My teacher told us that the cure for the HIV/ AIDS hadnt been found by the scientists. Many ideas came to my mind trying to find possible solutions to this problem. I assumed that many of my ideas could have been discussed in several meetings among scientists. In 2004, my perspective on life was changed when I met Jose, who has the virus of HIV. Jose is my best friend at my university. We were introduced by a friend in common when I enter to the University of Callao. His diagnosis was known in the university, when he suffered a car accident. Jose was rejected by my classmates when they learned of his diagnosis. Our friendship couldn't have been broken by a diagnosis. I remember the day when he told me his truth. I felt sad, scared, .. . I had many feelings. Jose told me that when he was 15 her mother told him that she had HIV. His mother was infected at a hospital when she received a blood transfusion. His mother had the evidence checked by experts. And they told her that the hospital committed medical malpractice. Despite the evidence, just an insignificant monetary compensation and free treatment was received by her from the government. One day I was invited by him to attend an NGO for people who have HIV. It is located in Jesus Maria. Many terrible things were imagined by my mind when I was walking from the University to this NGO. Such as: thin people, people who move with the help of others, among other things. But the reality was completely different. In that visit I had the opportunity to learn many things: 1. I talked with the president of the NGO who has lived with HIV for 12 years. He said to me, HIV is transmitted in many ways, such as anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It can be transmitted by any contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid that has the virus in it, such as the blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person.

2. The AIDS can be seen as a pandemic. As several epidemics of separate subtypes. 3. Although treatments for HIV/AIDS can slow the course of the disease, the cure or vaccine isn't known by scientists. Both the deaths and new infections from HIV/AIDS have been reduced by antiretroviral treatment, but these drugs are expensive and the medications are not available in all countries. Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS pandemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needleexchange programmes in attempts to slow the spread of the virus. 4. Ive learned that AIDS stigma has been divided into the following three categories: Instrumental AIDS stigma Symbolic AIDS stigma Courtesy AIDS stigma

5. I had the opportunity to meet a girl of only 8 years who has the diagnosis. A crime was committed by his father before the situation that they lived. The police had the evidence analyzed. But the criminal charges were withdrawn by the victim upon learning of his situation. She, despite her diagnosis, was more concerned by her father. In those moments is when you realize the great capacity to love that children have.

I could have been convinced by my classmates to have no contact with Jose, but I didn't and I don't regret because he is a human with the same rights that any of us. If I hadn't known a Jose, many things in my life would be completely different. I consider that great changes have been made by scientists from 1997 to now. I know that even today there is no cure for this disease but at least there are pills ( antiretrovirals ) to improve the quality of life of these people. Many new studies will be presented by scientists the next year and maybe they will present the cure for this disease.