YESTERDAY WAS WORLD AIDS DAY. BELOW ARE SOME IMPORTANT STATISTICS.
FROM NHS
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and disease.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the name used to describe a number of potentially life-threatening infections and illnesses that happen when your immune system has been severely damaged by the HIV virus.
While AIDS cannot be transmitted from 1 person to another, the HIV virus can.
There’s currently no cure for HIV, but there are very effective drug treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life.
With an early diagnosis and effective treatments, most people with HIV will not develop any AIDS-related illnesses and will live a near-normal lifespan.
PAT
Many people, even some doctors and other medical professionals are ignorant and uneducated when it comes to HIV and AIDS
As said above HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system.
AIDS is the name used to describe potentially life threatening infections in an immune system weakened by HIV.
ANTIRETROVIRALS are the wonder drugs that have been invented and perfected over the years that strengthen the immune system of a person with HIV and prevents them getting AIDS.
When you are diagnosed with HIV and start taking he ANTIRETROVIRALS the amount of HIV decreases in you body and gets to the point where it can be designated as UNDETECTABLE.
If you are UNDETECTABLE you cannot pass on HIV to another person.
HIV is no longer a death sentence and has not been for years.
HIV is now a treatable and manageable health condition.
A particular priest I know has both HIV and diabetes.
Diabetes is a much greater threat to his health and life than his HIV.
WARNING
Everybody out there who has sex with more than one person in a committed relationship should have regular sexual health checks.
There are quite a number of very unpleasant infections that sexually active people can get.
Today, let us mourn the 40.1 million of our brothers and sisters who have perished since the start of the HIV / AIDS pandemic.
Let us pray for all those affected by HIV / AIDS especially in poorer countries where sexual health services are poor and antiretrovirals unavailable.
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in our own communities who are sexually active that they will look after their health and protect themselves and others.
AND LET EACH OF US – MEN AND WOMEN – LOOK AFTER OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
PLACES TO SEEK HELP.
HIV confidential helpline
Positive Life supports and promotes positive living for people with, and affected by, HIV.
It runs a free phone helpline providing information, advice, and support to people living with, and affected by, HIV.
The helpline operates Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
- Confidential helpline: telephone 0800 137 437
- AND
Home
HSE STI services in Ireland
Using condoms every time you have sex will reduce your risk of contracting an STI.
Carlow
STI Clinic, Carlow District Hospital, Athy Road. Tel: 051 842 646: CLOSED
Clare
STI Clinic, Ennis General Hospital, HSE Ennis OPD, Westpoint Business Park, Kilrush Road, Ennis V95 D9KW, Co. Clare. Tel: 061 482 382. Email: theclinic@hse.ie
Cork
STI Clinic, South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Old Blackrock Road. Tel: 021 496 6844
STI Clinic, Youth Health Service, Penrose House, Penrose Quay, Cork City. Tel: 021-4937250
Donegal
GUM/ STI Clinic, Letterkenny General Hospital, Letterkenny. Tel: 074 912 3715
Dublin
GUIDE Clinic, St. James’s Hospital, James’s Street, Dublin 8. Tel: 01 416 2315/6. Booking available at http://www.guideclinic.ie
STI Clinic, Mater Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7. Tel: 01 803 2063. Booking information available at https://www.mater.ie/patients/sti/
Gay Men’s Health Service, Meath Primary Care Centre, Heytesbury Street, Dublin 8. Tel: 01 921 2730. Booking information is available at https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/sexhealth/gmhs/clinics
Galway
STI Clinic, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. Tel: 090 964 8372 (ext 676)
University Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road. Tel: 091 525 200
Kerry
STI Clinic, University Hospital Kerry, Tralee. Tel: 021 496 6844
Laois
STI Clinic, Out patients Dept., Midland Regional Hospital, Block Rd., Portlaoise. Tel: 086 859 1273
Limerick
STI Clinic, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle. Tel: 061 482 382. Email: theclinic@hse.ie
Louth
GUM Clinic, Louth County Hospital, Dublin Road, Dundalk. Tel: 086 824 1847
STI Clinic, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda. Tel: 086 824 1847
Mayo
STI Clinic, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar. Tel: 094 902 1733 (ext 3501)
Sligo
GUM Clinic, Sligo General Hospital, The Mall. Tel: 071 917 0473
Tipperary
STI Clinic, South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel. Tel: 051 842 646.: CLOSED
STI Clinic, University Hospital Nenagh. Tel: 061 482 382: Email: theclinic@hse.ie
Waterford
STI Clinic, University Hospital Waterford Dunmore Road. Tel: 051 842 646
Westmeath
STI Clinic, Midland Regional Hospital, Longford Road, Mullingar. Tel: 087 710 4152
PRIVATE CLINICS *******
THERE ARE ALSO PRIVATE CLINICS ABD DOCTORS, NORTH AND SOUTH.
BISHOP PAT BUCKLEY 