When we hear the word "sex", a lot of things come to mind. Some think disgusting. Some think love. Some think "greatest night of my life". However, few of us actually think about one of the most important, serious issues of the world today. An issue that affects millions of people a day. An issue that should not go unnoticed or ignored. This issue is that of HIV and AIDS.

Call for Youth Leadership students were fully educated on the subject of HIV/AIDS in their meeting on Saturday, January 5, 2002, courtesy of a Mr. Chi-Wai Au . Mr. Chi-Wai is associated with the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) and the Asian American Drug Abuse Program. He goes to different organizations and groups to inform people about HIV/AIDS. He was at CYL to teach the students about the virus and to answer any questions.

Mr. Chi-Wai Au started off by asking the room if anyone had any inquiries on HIV/AIDS. After a moment of silence, he naturally chuckled and started at the very beginning, explaining what HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) really meant. The HIV virus is basically a virus that affects and destroys T-cells, the "helper" cells that recognize and fight off infections. Thus, the body's immunity goes down and the person infected is more vulnerable to dangerous diseases. For instance, a healthy person would be sick with the flu for a week at the most. However, an HIV-positive person or a person with AIDS would a very long time to fight off the flu.

Mr. Chi-Wai Au also told the class that HIV is a progressive disease, meaning it would any where from 8 to 10 years for a person who is HIV-positive to have full blown AIDS. There are three stages: first, HIV asymptomatic is showing no symptoms; HIV symptomatic is showing symptoms; finally, AIDS affects the body. Symptoms of HIV/AIDS include sudden, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, chronic fatigue, fever chills, and swollen lymph nodes. There may be other infections that affect the brain, eyes, skin, genitals or others.

HIV, contrary to popular belief, is not transmitable by touching hands, hugging, or the saliva, tears, and sweat of an affected person. HIV is only transmitted by blood, exchange of any bodily fluids, shared needles, a mother's breast milk, and of course, unprotected sexual intercourse.

Although there is no known cure for AIDS, Mr. Chi-Wai Au informed us of different ways to prevent HIV/AIDS. The most effective 100% foolproof way is to abstain from sex. If sexually active, then use a condom of any barrier of latex material. Use water or silicone based lubricants. Don't share needles. It's as easy as that.

It's not all bad news. There is testing for HIV/AIDS. And not only that, there is medication available. Known as the medication-combination therapy, it does not cure the infected person, but it does delay the harmful effects of the virus. However, the virus could mutate and become resistant to the medication. Pills may also help, but one may take up to 20 pills a day, and any missed dose may be dangerous. Scientists are working around the clock to discover new medications for the virus, which will hopefully be a break-through for HIV/AIDS patients.

Mr. Chi-Wai Au surprised the room by saying that out of 42,800 cases of AIDS in LA County, 842 are Asian. Though it seems like a small number, we must be reminded that this number grows every day. He also informed the class that, out of all the Asian groups, Filipinos have the highest percent of AIDS cases. Japanese was second, and Chinese was third.

Although most of us think that we are unaffected by HIV/AIDS, we must keep an open mind about this issue. HIV/AIDS affects all of us. One person can help the situation just by educating himself/herself on the subject of AIDS. The AIDS virus may seem unbeatable now, but hopefully, in the future, there will be a cure.

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