#can i get hiv if my partner is on treatment | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

roshni99 · 9 months

Text

youtube

How can I reduce my risk of getting HIV? #HIV #healthtips #raphacure - YouTube

🌈⚡️ Empower Yourself: Reducing Your Risk of HIV Infection! #HIVAwareness Curious about ways to minimize your risk of HIV? Empower yourself with essential knowledge and take proactive steps to protect your health. Your well-being matters, and being informed can make a significant impact. 🌈⚡️ 🧡 Practice Safe Sex: Consistently and correctly use condoms or dental dams during sexual activity, especially with new or unknown partners. This greatly reduces the risk of HIV transmission. 🚫 Avoid Sharing Needles: If you use injectable drugs, never share needles, syringes, or any equipment. Use clean, sterile supplies to reduce the risk of HIV and other infections. 💉 Consider PrEP: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication taken daily by individuals at high risk of HIV. Consult a healthcare provider to determine if PrEP is right for you.

💪 Maintain Good Health: A healthy immune system can help protect you. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, manage stress, and get sufficient sleep. 🌡️ Regular Testing: Get tested for HIV regularly, especially if you engage in high-risk behaviors. Early detection allows for prompt treatment and reduces the risk of transmission. 👥 Know Your Partner's Status: Communicate openly with your sexual partners about their HIV status and get tested together. This helps build trust and make informed decisions. 🌈 Supportive Relationships: Cultivate a network of friends and partners who prioritize safe practices and open communication about sexual health. 💬 Educate Yourself: Stay informed about HIV transmission, prevention methods, and the latest advancements in HIV awareness and care. 🙌 Community Resources: Utilize available resources, such as local health centers, NGOs, and online platforms, to access information, testing, and support. 🌆 Stay Informed: Stay connected with HIV-awareness campaigns, community initiatives, and reliable health sources to stay up-to-date on prevention strategies. Before watching the video, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to our channel to receive many more tips and updates! For professional help and access to essential tools, download our mobile app: 📲 Android: [Link: http://bit.ly/3JACQOb] 🍏 Apple: [Link: https://apple.co/3I0QKbe] Explore more at https://www.raphacure.com/Virtual-Con... or write to [email protected]. Remember, reducing your risk of HIV involves a combination of education, responsible choices, and proactive measures. Every step you take towards HIV prevention contributes to your overall well-being. 🗣️ Spread the Awareness, Promote Health! 🗣️ Share this valuable information with your circle to raise awareness about HIV prevention. Knowledge empowers you to protect yourself and support others in their health journey. Prioritize your health, prioritize informed choices. Stay connected for more health insights and awareness. #HIVAwareness#StayProtected#PreventHIVInfection#HealthEmpowerment#StayInformed#wellbeingmatters how can i protect my partner from getting hiv?,getting tested,does pulling out reduce hiv risk?,can i get hiv if my partner is on treatment,hiv testing,how can i protect my partners?,risk,how can hiv be transmitted through kissing,how can you get hiv,how can hiv be transmitted through,can you get hiv if your partner is on medication,can hiv be transmitted through urine,can you get hiv from just sticking it in,can i infect my partner with hiv if im on arvs?

0 notes

letters-to-lgbt-kids · 1 year

Text

(TW: Sex - educational context, HIV prevention)

My dear lgbt+ kids,

After my last post about HIV, I received multiple asks like "I feel embarrassed to ask something so stupid but..." - and the pure fact that I got multiple of them already proves that not knowing something is no reason to be embarrassed!

Many people are not super confident in their HIV knowledge. Acknowledging that and seeking more info is a great thing. I decided to put all these questions in one post:

How do you even get HIV?

Certain body fluids can transmit HIV:

blood

semen (cum)

pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)

rectal fluids

vaginal fluids

breast milk.

Most adults who get HIV get it through sex (vaginal or anal) or sharing needles (or other drug injection equipment). Getting it from oral sex is also possible but less common.

Parent-to-child transmission (birth, breastfeeding) is the most common way that children get HIV.

Can you get HIV from topping?

Yes. Both the top and the bottom can get HIV through penetrative sex (top means you are penetrating your partner, bottom means your partner is penetrating you).

During anal sex, the bottom has a higher risk. That's because HIV can enter the body through the rectum’s thin lining. But: HIV can also enter the body through the opening at the tip of the penis or the foreskin or small cuts/scratches/sores anywhere on the penis.

During vaginal sex, either partner can get HIV as well, through vaginal tissue, the cervix or the penis as described above.

Can you get HIV from kissing?

You can’t transmit HIV through saliva, so there would need to be blood (or another fluid of the ones named above) involved. That means you could theoretically get HIV from open-mouthed kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums - but this is very rare.

You can’t transmit HIV at all through closed-mouthed kissing.

Can you get HIV from a public toilet?

The only realistic risk of getting HIV from a public toilet is by having sex or sharing drug equipment in there!

HIV does not survive long outside the human body (like on the toilet seat or door handle) and it cannot reproduce outside a human host. Wash your hands, as there are other germs that do survive on surfaces, but don't worry about HIV.

Can you get HIV from getting a tattoo?

You theoretically could - if the equipment or ink has someone else’s blood in it. This is unlikely to happen unless the person doing your tattoo uses unsterilized needles.

If you get a tattoo or piercing, make sure that the person doing the procedure is properly licensed and uses only new or sterilized equipment.

Can you get HIV from masturbating?

No. The only possible way would be if there were bodily fluids from an infected person on your fingers or sex toys.

It's always a good idea to wash your hands first because there could be other germs/irritants on them - but if you are doing it all alone, there is no risk of HIV. If you are masturbating together with another person, try to avoid sharing toys. If you do share them, use a new condom for each partner.

Can you get HIV from drinking alcohol?

When we talk about transmission via drug use, we are talking about sharing needles or drug equipment - they may have someone else's blood on them.

Alcohol use doesn't involve needles, you can not directly get HIV from being drunk. But: being drunk (or high) can lead to risky behavior that sober you wouldn't participate in, such as unprotected sex! It's a good idea to be careful around alcohol.

Isn't there a cure for HIV by now?

No. Once you have HIV, you have it for life - but the good news are there is treatment available! Someone who is HIV-positive and starts receiving treatment early has a normal life expectancy.

Medicine can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (this is called viral load). In fact, it can make the viral load so low that a test can’t detect it anymore - and if you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV to others!

With all my love,

Your Tumblr Dad

#lgbt #lgbt+

901 notes · View notes

knowtheskybeyond · 8 months

Text

Whumptober 2023 October 8, 2023 Overcrowded ER | Outnumbered | “It’s all for nothing.” Drew Gulak/Jordan James

Iatrophobia (noun) iat·ro·pho·bia

Definition: an intense fear of doctors

Having such a phobia could be hard enough for a person. Having such a phobia as a person who was HIV positive, is an entirely different animal. Jordan always hated places like this. He had hated them since he was a small child. His parents often thought that as he got older, he would overcome the phobia and get used to the level of medical care that someone in his condition would need, after all what six-year-old child was just going to be used to the number of needles that an HIV positive child was going to be subjected to especially in the early days of HIV treatment. As Jordan grew older however he didn't adjust. In fact, the phobia he developed as a child seemed to only grow worse as he grew older. He seemed to internalize the years of fear that his parents didn't allow him to show and because of this the fear only grew worse as he grew older. There had been times in his late teens and early 20s that he had been practically unconscious when Charlie had brought him to the local emergency room.

On this night, however, he didn't have the option to wait until he was too weak to make it to the ER himself. This time he was in New York all on his own. Charlie was away with AEW as the head of their medical team, and Drew hadn't even made it back home from the most recent round of NXT tapings, let alone to be able to make it to New York to be at the ER with him. Jordan was on his own this time. There was no one to help him through the panic that was coursing through his veins, but there was also no one to keep him in that emergency room. There was no one to stop him from running out that door and going back to his apartment. Every fiber in his being wanted to get up from that chair and hurried down to the subway. Instead, he pulled his phone from his pocket, and sent a message to his partner.

So, I don't want you to panic, but I need you to tell me not to leave this ER right now.

Okay so first off why are you sitting in an emergency room right now???

Jordan expected the question as soon as he sent the text. He expected his partner would be texting Charlie as soon as he had the opportunity. Conversations like this had been common between him and his sister when they were living alone, or she was traveling for work. Now he had the added factor of explaining these things to Drew and Tony as well.

Just a little weak and feverish. Nothing you need to worry about. Just wanted to get it checked out just to be on the safe side but every single bone in my body says run out of here and I need you to tell me not to do that. I swear there's a person in every single seat in this ER. It feels as though the walls are getting ready to close in on me.

Okay, well First off, I'm proud of you for making the decision to go and get yourself looked at. I know that wasn't easy for you and I know you don't want to be there. If you made it this far though you can't just get up and leave before you're seen to. I'm sorry that I can't be there with you, but you can text me the entire time you're there I promise.

Thanks darlin'. I knew it was only going to get worse if I just laid there. As much as I absolutely despise the thought, I'm not going to get any composing done feeling like this. I feel like I'm really at a breakthrough with the support group scene and I'm not gonna get any work done on it if I can barely get myself out of bed. It's been years since the demo for Burn All Night dropped and I haven't put out any new work since. I have to put out new work I have to stay relevant.

You obviously haven't been listening to Vienna lately. You're too hard on yourself Jordan and don't give me any of that pot and cut all stuff either. You'll put out the new work when it's ready and not a moment sooner. You can't be everything you want to be before your time. Remember?

Jordan drew in a slow calming breath. Drew was right, of course he was right he always was. Even if he wanted to stay up for the next six days in a row to work on this scene, it wasn't going to be good for the health of the work or for his health to do so; but it did distract him from his panic to talk about the work instead.

Of course, you're going to use that song against me. I never should have told you how much I love that song.

I can't help that it's relevant and it works.

Jordan let out a soundless laugh from under the mask that he wore. Drew always knew exactly what to say to calm him down, and even without having the older man at his side he felt a little less alone even just having the small screen in his hand.

Let Tony and Charlie know that I'm okay. I'll text you periodically and let you know how things are going. They're calling me back now, so I'll let you know how things go once doc comes back to see me. I love you. Don't stay up all night worrying about me.

With that Jordan pocketed his phone and followed the nurse that called his name down the long hallway to an examination room. It was going to be a long night, he knew that ER visits were never easy things, but at least he knew that, Drewould be right there on the other end of the phone whenever he needed him.

#rai's whumptober 2023

2 notes · View notes

swampgallows · 1 year

Text

i think the ‘covid is here to stay!’ argument for no longer taking precautions is so fucking stupid because like. yeah, hiv/aids is here to stay, we can never go back to my parents’ era of wild uninhibited group sex with strangers or whatever. i remember my mom saying as i was growing up that when she was young “sex couldn’t kill you” but now it can, because hiv/aids is “here to stay”. but what has the public response been? well, at least in the current era, there are plenty of campaigns about having safe sex, and even the most wild and uninhibited of sexual communities practice “safe, sane, and consensual” kink and what it means to be responsible: using protection like condoms and dental dams, getting tested regularly, discussing with your partners, and being educated about the risks. black, queer, and drug communities had to protect and educate themselves because nobody else would.

and i know ive said it before, but it is eerie seeing the handfuls of queer elders (actual elders, in their sixties and beyond) in these covid cautious groups talk about their deja vu in terms of public response. government expects individuals to fend for themselves and actively suppresses information or makes treatment inaccessible, even acknowledging its existence is inherently political, other people immediately ostracize you, you end up isolated from your communities and society because they dont want to be reminded of the risk, or people become fatalistic and decide they’re just going to live it up now and do whatever they want, ignoring who they might be hurting with their behavior.

unlike hiv/aids, we’ve known much earlier on how covid is spread and how to reduce transmission, and yet people refuse to do it. if we expect people who are at risk of spreading stds to cover their area of transmission, why is it "personal preference” and not a public health concern to expect the same from those who are at risk of spreading covid?

#blathering #covid

11 notes · View notes

meanmisscharles · 1 year

Text

I posted 11,810 times in 2022

That's 11,810 more posts than 2021!

1,233 posts created (10%)

10,577 posts reblogged (90%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@saturnineaqua

@chuplayswithfire

@batsarebetterthanpeople

@ourflagmeansgayrights

@outmymind-justintime

I tagged 1,875 of my posts in 2022

#ofmd - 503 posts

#our flag means death - 382 posts

#youtube - 148 posts

#food - 68 posts

#spotify - 58 posts

#interview with the vampire - 36 posts

#my fic - 33 posts

#iwtv - 29 posts

#interview with the vampire amc - 25 posts

#important - 14 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#yes. give me a crowley so sick of 6000 years of yearning that lucifer is like 'fuck no i don't want to talk to him! he's on some bullshit!'

My Top Posts in 2022:

OKAY SO IT'S WORLD AIDS DAY, BABES

First of all, I'm going to just talk about KNOWING YOUR STATUS!

"Why, Meanmisscharles?"

BECAUSE KNOWING YOUR STATUS IS SUPER FUCKING IMPORTANT, EVEN IF YOU DON'T THINK IT IS.

Being tested for HIV (and other blood-borne viruses, like Hepatitis C) is the first step in AIDS prevention. You should get tested if you're having sex right now, if you've had sex, or if you think maybe you might have sex. You should also get tested if you've used syringes for substance use, are using syringes, or might use syringes for substance use, or are partners with someone that does. You can also acquire HIV from shared piercing and tattoo needles.

You should know YOUR status, even if you don't know your partner's status. Some testing centers offer couple's testing - but make sure that option is one that you feel safe and comfortable doing.

A "non-reactive" or "negative" HIV test means that you can get on PrEP and keep your status that way, with correct and regular use.

A "reactive" or "positive" HIV test means that you can start ART (anti-retroviral treatment) that with regular and correct use, can bring your status to "undetectable" - which means that your viral load is undetectable on standard blood tests and you won't pass HIV to partners through sex.

Knowing your status so you can take steps to prevent transmission, or start treatment, is about empowering yourself.

Find out where you can get free HIV testing here:

Freehivtest.net

Helpstopthevirus.com

I know all the smart young people following me know this, but I still wanted to put something out there. I remember what it was like, before testing was available and I remember the people that fought so hard for this to be different than it was then.

559 notes - Posted December 1, 2022

Ed HAD to grow that beard.

Otherwise, the stories would all be; "Yes, my ship was raided by Captain Finer Than A Motherfucker! He looked me in the eyes and then threatened to cut my eyeballs out, or gut me, I really don't remember because I was too busy staring at them lips! You know he wears those short ass little shirts, right? Damn, we were on fire and everything and I still tried to find out where he stays at when he's not busy. Um. Yeah I was terrified tho."

664 notes - Posted October 13, 2022

Stede Bonnet really said "I may not know shit about being a pirate, but bitch, NONE OF THESE HOES will outdress me!"

And he meant that shit.

955 notes - Posted November 4, 2022

Not a complaint, as such, but I wish there was more of a non-Western/colonial bit of theorizing around stuff in fandom.

It takes place in the Caribbean! We have an Indigenous lead and Black crew! We have a multi-racial/ethnic writer's room!

I am B A F F L E D that a fandom that can research forks, cravats and cakes don't make the effort to look into other interpretations of stuff.

Like, WHY is Oluwande so shocked by the racism he encountered at the French party? WHY is he the only Black crew member with a full, non-Europranized name? WHY was he received the way he was by the Indigenous tribe? I have only seen references in fic about his background connected to slavery or being on a plantation and it doesn't fit! He's more likely to be a Maroon than anything else, but it never comes up.

Frenchie is a clever rascal who was in service, has unusual beliefs and is decidedly uninvolved with Catholicism. If we ignore Joel's personal accent, could he have been from the colony of New France, or even Saint Domingue (my personal headcanon)?

Mermaids! There is a whole lot of good stuff about mermaids and Caribbean/African beliefs around them. Even some from New Zealand.

Anyway, just thinking out loud.

1,451 notes - Posted August 29, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The lil' extra head-tilt kills me dead

Every. Single. Time

LOOKIT LOOKIT LOOKIT

1,496 notes - Posted September 1, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

3 notes · View notes

hollyjaques · 10 days

Text

How to Talk About Getting Tested for STIs Before Sex

By Robyn Bell

Discussing STI testing before sex can feel awkward, but it's important to normalize this conversation. While we often talk about preventing pregnancy, protecting ourselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is equally crucial. Here’s how to address STI status effectively.

What Are STIs?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, especially among young people in the UK. Anyone can contract an STI, regardless of sexual history, orientation, gender identity, or type of sexual activity. However, you can take control and protect yourself.

Using Condoms and Dental Dams

Condoms and dental dams are excellent barriers that prevent STI transmission. When used correctly, condoms are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy and some STIs.

Protecting Against All STIs

Unfortunately, some STIs, such as genital herpes, genital warts, and syphilis, can be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Even with condom use, it's possible to contract these infections. For effective protection, you must communicate openly about STI status before sexual activity.

Knowing Your STI Status

Get tested to know your STI status. Chlamydia and gonorrhoea can be tested through a urine sample or vaginal swab, which you can do yourself. HIV and syphilis require a blood test, available at sexual health clinics or through postal kits in some areas. Find your nearest service here or use SH:24 for free postal testing.

A negative result is usually communicated via text, while a positive result will prompt a call from a nurse to arrange treatment. Most STIs can be treated with antibiotics.

Starting the Conversation

To discuss STI status with a partner, you can use messaging if it's more comfortable. For example: "My last STI test was [date], and I am [positive/negative] for [insert STIs]. How about you?"

If you have a positive result for a treatable but not curable STI, like herpes, share helpful resources and offer to answer questions: "I have [herpes], and I know you might need some time to think about what that means. Here are some resources that helped me. Feel free to ask any questions."

People with non-curable STIs can still have healthy sexual relationships. Check out this Instagram account for more insights.

Talking About Sex

It's normal to feel shy about these conversations since our culture often shames discussions about sex. Films and pornography rarely show conversations about STI status and consent. However, you can normalize this in your own sex life. If someone refuses to discuss their STI status or insists they "just know" they're clear without testing, it’s a red flag. They may need time to adjust, but your health and safety deserve priority.

Additional Support

Where to get a sexual health check in the UK

Brook – Free STI home testing kits

Brook – STIs and stigma

0 notes

nathank77 · 1 month

Text

4/13/24

12:18 a.m

Talk about driving me fucking crazy. Can you just tell me? Cause I want a retest if it comes back positive.

At this point I'm just accepting I have HSV2. Do I know for sure? Absolutely not cause quest won't finish the fucking test and I've had absolutely no symptoms but- pretending it's a positive will make a positive less traumatic.

I haven't talked to my mother yet but for some reason, I know damn well if I have it, it's from her giving birth to me vaginally.

How do I feel about this? Well if I pretend it's def positive, even though I know I have HSV1....

1) Well I've been asymptomatic for 16 years to 33 years depending on if it was from my Mother or my two sexcapade so who really cares when it comes to my body? I'm not going to ever get symptoms.

2) Obviously I'll be worried I'll get symptoms one day bc they can be a horror story but I have to use time as a reference and psychosis as the most traumatizing event cause it is and then all my other shit that didn't trigger it.

Also there are treatments for it, if you end up being someone very symptomatic that can stop infection frequency. Katelyn had to do it cause she had many outbreaks.

I can avoid certain things that cause outbreaks and otherwise I can just assume I'll never have symptoms and only worry about it if I do.

And if I ever do I won't be surprised bc I'll know.

3) I feel bad for all my exes. Cause I'm telling 2 or 3 out of 4 of them. If I can reach Cecile. I mean I'd want to know if it was the shoe on the other foot so I could get tested. I can't tell Jon cause he won't talk to me but I would if I could.

They'll also low key hate me-its not my fault planned parenthood only tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia..

I've gotten all my tests done at planned parenthood after every partner since I was like 18 years old and I was over here thinking they screened for everything but they don't. They do not do a full panel like my primary care did. They don't even test for Hepitas for christ sake.

-I'm over here thinking I only have two things, one that isn't even a std:

1] HSV1- My cold sores make it undeniable and I've told everyone I dated.

2] I have Pearly Penile Papules, I've had those since I started testosterone. They aren't sexually attractive, they line the head of my dick and they are ultra tiny. However they increase sexual pleasure and they aren't contagious. They don't do anything. They just exist. They are harmless. I've always told my partners about them bc everyone freaks out about bumps down below and I actually went to Planned Parenthood and had them look at my dick and diagnose it years ago, so it's actually what they are.

3) My main concern is that no one will date me bc I will tell everyone that I get serious with. Not right away but well before sex.

- I wish she hadn't done the blood test. They say needless suffering for a reason. Cause they aren't very accurate and I'm over here saying, "Nathan idc if it's in progress you have HSV2, in order to soften the blow if it comes back positive."

- Either way I wait. I'm mostly concerned that no one will date me. I can't blame someone for not wanting it.

- I mean I'm a transguy. I'm disabled. I'm very mentally ill. I'm a low life. And If I have HSV2 good bye to any chance of me finding a partner.

-Either way it's still in progress. It could come back negative, I just got to prepare for the worst case scenario. And if it comes back negative I'll be happy as a pig in shit. If it comes back positive, then I'll feel all the things I wrote above and I'll get retested and I'll start looking at test accuracy rates.

0 notes

a-shared-experience · 4 months

Text

“ my dope is making people drop like flies. It’s killing people” she says in distress as my shift partner injects narcan into the right thigh of a young girl slumped over on the bench.

“O2 sat 61% let’s get her on her back and bag her. A guy I’d helped earlier just happens to wander in and hands me back the preloaded syringe we’d filled for his friends. I check the time and squat down to inject the left leg as my partner squeezes air into the lungs. “

“Oxygen is rising hold off on the third shot. 77% 91% 97% perfect.”

“Mom?”

“Huh”

“ I need my mom”

“ you’ve had an overdose babe, we had to give you two shots of narcan. Do you know where you are? “

I’m crouched down beside her and my shift partner lifts my coat and tells me to back up a little. The young girl has lost control of her bladder. She cries and asks us for pants. We don’t have any of course but tell her the peace officers can probably help her. She declines. The uniform is too frightening to request in front of the dealer.

The dealer pulls me aside and tells me she went to the clinic I recommended for treatment but they did blood work and informed her that when she experienced a sexual assault in the summer she contacted HIV. She immediately ran back to fentanyl and tries to quickly do her makeup and hide the fact that tears are welling up.

“Come here, I’m so sorry” I hold out my arms and embrace her in a hug. Her tears stream down my jacket and I just keep holding her and whispering, “ you are loved, you are valued, you are going to survive this. “ I hold her until she’s ready to let go.

“ you can talk to me anytime girl. We can figure this out and this can become undetectable, this is not a death sentence. The most important thing is not giving up. We need to find any sort of housing option, therapy and ways to adhere to the medication. That’s super important. “

“ you’re the only person I talk to, I’m so fucking dirty now”

“ you absolutely are not. There are so many options and you can lead a very long healthy and happy life. We can teach you about this. This isn’t the 80’s. I love you. You are loveable.you are not what’s happened to you.”

She’s got customers but ignores them to show me her dope. It’s not unlike one of the samples in my linen closet. I can’t tell her much other than it’s likely carfentanyl if her clients are dropping right after they take a hit. I load her up with narcan.

My heart aches for her. We often demonize the dealer but she has no income support, no family, sleeps on the street and is terrified of treatment because she just got diagnosed with a serious life threatening disease and has no meaningful way to find the support she desperately needs. It’s easier to think this is a good time to turn your life around but unless this has happened to you then you really have no idea how difficult the collective trauma can be for this one tiny girl.

We toss out a second BVM for the day. The first incident was a young boy on the north side. He and his friends hotboxed one of the elevators and they shuffled out excited to see our team. They needed wound care for frostbite , advice for severe swelling without cause , snacks , etc.

“ hey friend” i say to one of the boys who’s starting to fold up, “ take a deep breath for me ok. “

He slides down onto his knees and face plants the cement platform. His oxygen is a dangerous 41%. I need to lay you down on your back I yell as I grab him from behind. He tries to resist but his friends start yelling at him. “ bro this chick is cool. She literally bought me shoes and knows her shit. Don’t be an idiot”

“ no narcan “ inaudibly escapes his blue lips. I gaze down, fingertips are blue. Skin is pale and the chest is barely rising.

“ homie you’re gonna die without narcan this isn’t a joke. “ I say as my mind races a million miles a minute. I’ve never had a situation like this.

“ I know it’s hard to get dope bud but this is gonna be your last high, you’re fucking cutting oxygen off from all your organs. Let me give you a half shot , you need a full one but I’ll work with ya”

“ no”

I’m standing over a kid watching him fucking die. I’m legally bound not to administer narcan if the affected person experiencing the poisoning declines care.

Everyone is yelling and he starts to convulse.

“ what do we do”

I threaten to call Ems and he tells me no. Everytime we think he’s unconscious we go to administer and he magically flinches and says no. These stats are so low and not improving. This is brain damage and I can’t just fucking watch someone die like this. This is a kid- a stubborn kid.

“ bag him”

What? My coworker says! , he’s refusing care.

“ I don’t care, no narcan but he needs airway support. I’m not fucking watching this kid die”

Everyone is yelling, they are afraid , off in the corner I watch a couple of kids start to get high.

“ fuck this”

911 what’s your emergency?

I have a young male experiencing a substance poisoning, oxygen is 47 % with bvm airway suppprt, he’s refusing narcan and I’m legally bound by bystander laws not to respond. I don’t know what to do. “

“ mam i understand”

“ I’m located on the top of the platform northbound, there’s no violence but he’s cyanotic and keeps regaining consciousness to refuse the shot. “

“ help is on the way. Send someone to get an aed”

“ I need you to run and find security and ask for an aed. “ I say to my partner

I place my hand over the mask tightly around the nose and hold my phone up with my neck. I grab my bag so it doesn’t get rinsed and pull it closer to me. “

My partner stares blankly. “ a what”

She’s hella smart but this is chaotic and we’ve never had someone in such high risk for fatality be able to resist in this regard. He’s so young.

“ defibrillator. I’m good , I’ll be ok, you go”

“ you’re gonna fucking have cardiac arrest dude” I squeeze his shoulders, “ I need you to breathe bro”

I squeeze the bag

“ mam i want to count his reps on his own ok.

Everytime the chest rises, you say GO.

“1234567 GO123456789 GO 12345678 Go” I shake and stare at his chest.

“ ok provide airway support. Fire will be arriving shortly”

My partner runs over from the 4 flights of stairs and says out of breath, there’s no aed on site.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

12345 squeeze.

“ you’re doing great. Fire is there”

Ok I’ll let you go.

Three huge men tower over me and ask what’s going on. Oxygen was 41 at lowest, he is cyanotic and just barely conscious enough to refuse care. Bvm airway support for 30 minutes has brought him up to 76%.

“ you did a great job. “ he says and quickly

Starts responding and trying to reason with the kid.

When Ems arrives I pull one paramedic aside and say, I don’t know if that was the right thing to do but I wasn’t sure bvm would work and I couldn’t just let this kid die.

“ you guys are awesome and legally you did everything you could do, otherwise you can be sued. Calling us was the right decision. You guys saved him. He’s gonna be ok “

I take a breath and ask them to check out the other kids swollen foot. He’s proud and doesn’t want to talk to the boys in blue. I crouch down and just get real. “ I care about you, I know you’re high and I know hospitals suck and it’s a total dude thing, y’all are idiots , did you drop something on your foot? No, did you kick a wall or something ? No. Did someone assault you or did you step on something weird? No

It’s pretty ballooned up dude. Is there pain going up the leg because you are violently shaking in pain and I know you just smoked fent strong enough to almost kill your friend so you shouldn’t feel this shit.

This is more concerning if you don’t know why it’s happening.

He cries and tells me he will go later , he needs to make money.

The paramedics join in to talk sense into him. “ bro this is serious. We can take you to a clinic. A hospital wherever you wanna go but you need a doctor”

We pass out mass amounts of narcan and talk carfentil to most as well as the latest 890 pound meth bust. “ the drugs are gonna be spicy”

The kid who almost died seems excited about that.

The kid with the balloon foot that can’t fit into a sock or a sneaker looks at me and says, “ he’s been like this lately “

“ suicidal!? Don’t listen to him. Narcan him and help your homie access medical care for mental health. There’s times when we respect someone’s wishes and times when people aren’t using their fucking heads. This will pass. He’s young man. I know it’s hard but there are options. If I can make it out , yall can ok. Get your fucking foot looked at, I got Jordan’s for you and you can’t even wear them - that’s not going away magically.

“ what do you think it is” he asks.

“ how the fuck would I know. If you have questions about drugs I’m your girl, you need some first aid , I’m your girl, bro you need a lot of things. What’s your plan”

He tells me he’s banned from transit so I ride in the elevator his friend just pissed in and get him onto the train with us. On the train a well known gang invites us to hang out , we laugh and thank them but flash our badges. They all ask for narcan. In the seat in front of me is a girl with schizophrenia, severe wounds and a bad meth addiction. I love her.

“ hey girl, you look great”

“ I am so happy to see you, you are always there on my worst days magically. You’re always there somehow. I don’t see you for weeks and then you’re here. You are so pretty. I just got out of the hospital. I am sick. “

“ can I see your leg, I won’t touch it I promise. “

She lifts the jogging pants to expose soiled bandages. She’s nearly impossible get into wound care because of the severe pain, the refusal to give pain meds from her doctors because of heavy methamphetamine consumption. You basically have to wait for her to mistakenly smoke fent and go down to get her medical attention. The wounds have at times made me almost faint. I see a lot of things out here but this is top 5 worst.

She doesn’t like many people, she doesn’t engage but I saved her life and I was there shortly after she was raped , I’ve listened to her tell me that her parents didn’t want her, they kept her sister and sometimes send money to her account. Small amounts. They don’t want a mentally ill child.

She’s stuck in our shelter system without adequate treatment for serious disorders and the pain and paranoia will possibly lead to her having amputations.

“ I got you a present you know! It’s at the mall. Ask for James ok- the cute one! I got size 13 shoes, flyknits so they aren’t tight on the wounds ok, and even a tarot and oracle deck”

“ oh my gosh are you serious! A tarot deck. I’ve always wanted one. You are an angel. I love you”

I begin walking her through each wound care provision I’m placing in the brown paper bag. Gauze, sterile water, roller gauze , adaptic, another pair of socks. “

“ make sure you go there on Monday and get shoes ok darling. You are loved. I’m so glad I got to see you. “

She hugs me and rambles a bit. Then the boy hugs me and says sorry for being a shithead.

“ you’re good , i love you bro, just be serious ok. It’s serious. You don’t need to be afraid but you need to go today. Is there anyone I can call for you ?” Nah

I look over at the gang girl, she’s been calling me sister , “ yo, make him go to the doctor, he can’t be out here reppin face tattoos and crying over a fucked up foot. That’s not a good look lol” we all laugh and my partner and I get off the train and find 8 kids down in a forested area outside of the train station.

It’s very haunting to see. Everyone just walks by afraid.

I turn the corner and see my client dealing. “ bro no shade but fucking take narcan and give it out, this shit is strong” I hand him baggies for his dope and start distributing kits. Even people acting tough I just give the look to and they take it. “ this shit ain’t no joke, take care of each other “

The day is intense and we hop on the train to head back to the office. A guy strikes up conversation and is genuinely intrigued by our work. He tells us it’s his first time taking the lrt, he was completely lost and these young thug kids showed him exactly where to go and even walked with him and made sure he understood which train to get on. He then saw them approach us and ask for snacks , condoms and narcan and had to inquire.

“ I just can’t get over that those seemingly bad kids actually were super kind and helpful and respectful “

“ it’s amazing what happens when you start to engage with your community. Everyone is so diverse and has a story and to be honest so very few are “ bad” even then it’s likely they are very mentally ill and need the most help or just find themselves in a situation that they can’t find solutions for. We’re all perceived as something , we’re all a bad decision or bad circumstance away from being on the side in need of help. Life happens. “

“ it takes a special kind of person to do your job”

I enjoy talking to him and can tell that other members of the fearful general public are eavesdropping which is wonderful. It’s not often that I’m given a voice to advocate so one on one like this.

“ excuse me” I say. I quickly get up and walk down the car and trap squeeze a young girl. “ hey darling, are we doing ok”?

I find her unconscious falling into the aisle. She must have just gotten on or just slumped over, I refuse to believe I didn’t notice this.

“ good eye” my partner says to me for the millionth time today. “ i want that on my tombstone when i die. She had a good eye, two of em”

The girl is rousable but covered in fresh blood. I glove up and ask her what happened. A few white ladies are gawking at me and it’s likely a bit funny what with my new meth hoodie NO CUT NO BUFF 💪 ( support dulfs compassion club! Safe supply is the beginning of the way out of this crisis).

I am trying to clean her up and because our shift is over we are rushing a little. My coworker notices a huge lump expanding on the forehead and the girl says she’s dizzy. She doesn’t appear to be intoxicated so we ask if she wouldn’t mind hopping off at the next stop. “ I think you need Ems love. You might have a pretty intense concussion and there’s a lot of bruising and blood everywhere. Can we get an assessment at least. ?”

She agrees and asks to lay down. Peace officers call 911 for us and bring a few bottles of water.

I hand out narcan to the people in the immediate area and wait for ems to arrive to pass off care.

We had a lot of great interactions with medical responders, security and officers today- it’s almost weird.

A new guy introduces himself as having just joined the peace officers after moving from Toronto.

“ man i grew up in Toronto and thought that was wild but it’s nothing compared to this shit. This is insane. I don’t even know how you do this. There’s constant crisis”

“ welcome to Edmonton. If you need any resources let us know, we can always assist with mental health crisis, wound care , overdose , or even just communication and snacks. We try and connect with as many individuals as possible and the only thing we don’t do is violence. We avoided stadium for that reason earlier today. Violent assault on the platform as we rolled up and rolled away lol. I’ll save that for you. My name is Brett, I shake his hand”

He walks outside after I finish charting and I hit my vape in the square right in front of the no smoking/ vaping sign… in front of the bylaw officer.

“ fuck , sorry. “

“ that’s a 250$ ticket miss “ he winks

“ after today I’d probably fight ya lol”

“ I’d let you win” he winks again

“ stay safe. Ill see ya around”

I go out and make it home at 6am. It’s been a long day and a weird night and I think soon I’ve got to check myself for my escapist ways. It’s a lot- this work, this role. It means a lot to me. I’ve got to take better care of myself and maybe I need to learn the ways I’ll do that still. I want to be my best self for me and others. Be safe kids. Be safe. Today I’m hoping to rest, make more art and have a two hour grief course later in the afternoon. I don’t want to do it, there’s a lot to unpack but practice what ya preach I guess.

To some extent , at any given time, we will all struggle and maybe do risky things , we are all just trying to connect, to feel safe, to feel valued and to take our mind off a few things.

I think that’s human.

The Uber driver says he works at the mall and has seen me and my team saving lives. “ you are a blessing to this world. You do things many cannot. These are very special gifts.”

“ do you know how to use naloxone? I can show you”

0 notes

thxnews · 1 year

Text

Blinken Visits HIV/AIDS Clinic and Meeets PM in Papau New Guinea

Transcript of the Lawes Road Urban Clinic Speech

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, everyone. This was a real privilege to be here at Lawes Road at this clinic, where quite literally our partners are saving lives, changing lives, every single day. The United States – we’ve been a committed partner in helping to deal with HIV/AIDS for many years, particularly through the PEPFAR program, and we are powerfully committed going forward because here in Papua New Guinea, unfortunately, we’ve actually seen HIV rates rising, not falling. It’s hugely important to continue to work to get ahead of that. I had an opportunity to talk to some of the clinicians but also some remarkable people who have been living with HIV/AIDS but are now helping in their own communities to spread the word about the treatments available and encouraging people to come forward.

HIV Stigma

One of the biggest challenges that we know from our experience around the world, and we see here is that the antiretroviral treatments are incredibly effective, and people live full lives with HIV/AIDS if they’re on an antiretroviral. But because of stigma that people impose upon themselves or that their communities may impose, they may be reluctant to come forward. It is so important to come forward to seek treatment. It’s simple, it’s easy, and it works. And now there is also a treatment that is prophylactic – in other words, that can actually prevent the transmission – that’s 99 percent effective called PrEP. And for people who are particularly at high risk, this is a very, very effective means of preventing the transmission, and here at Lawes Road they are able to share that as well. So part of my reason for coming here today is just to help in our own way to put a spotlight on this because it remains a real challenge in Papua New Guinea.

US Government Support

We want to help. I am so grateful to my colleagues at USAID who are leading this effort with our partners here in Papua New Guinea. This support has made a huge difference, but it can make more of a difference if we can continue to get people to come forward, and particularly the communities themselves. This is the most effective way to share information, to educate people about what’s available, and to have people come forward.

Gender-based Violence

The other thing that’s very powerful here is that this clinic is also dealing with gender-based violence and helping victims of gender-based violence get the psychosocial services they need, work through the legal system, get other support. And that too is hugely, hugely important for people to come forward, to get the support that you can get here. In our own home country we’ve had this challenge, and I can say that one of the things that President Biden is proudest of in his career in the United States Senate, as Vice President, now as President, in all that time the thing that he’s probably the most proudest – proud of is the fact that he wrote the law, the Violence Against Women Act. That made violence against women a federal crime but also put in place a remarkable system for people to get help, national hotlines for people who were at risk or who had been victimized by gender-based violence. So this is something that he feels very strongly. It was inspiring to meet the clinician here, who’s working every day to help people who are victimized by gender-based violence. The United States is proud to be a partner with the government, with our local implementing partners. It’s something we’re deeply committed to. And I just wanted to put a little spotlight on that today because it remains a big challenge here, but one that we can overcome working together and especially with the remarkable people here at Lawes Road who every single day are saving lives and changing lives. Thank you.

Transcript of the Meeting Between the Prime Minister and Secretary Blinken

PRIME MINISTER MARAPE: Thank you all for coming by. USA is a important partner to PNG. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder on many occasions even (inaudible) living memory 1945, right up until our independence in 1975, and even up to today you remain very much an important bilateral partner, a big part of our nation’s history. That’s why across (inaudible) country we are here to get to develop our country to be better developed and not where we are today. And we appreciate the help you have given us thus far and for you coming here representing your president, representing the great people of the United States of America. We look forward to this historic meeting amongst ourselves. More importantly, we bring our combined conversations into our Pacific Island leaders dialogue that is – that is organized for – to take place after our engagement is complete. And welcome to Port Moseby and Papua New Guinea one more time. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Prime Minister, thank you so much. And again, as I said before, we’re so grateful for not just your hospitality but your flexibility. The President, again, asked me to extend his warmest greetings to you as well as his regret that he was not able to be here for the reasons that you know well. But we had the extraordinary, I think genuinely historic summit at the White House and throughout our government, and I think that was for him such an important and powerful moment that he wants to continue to build on. And in fact we’d like to invite you and all of your colleagues to a second summit in Washington this fall. We will find the right time to do that. But meanwhile, it was particularly important for me to be here at the President’s request and with your great hospitality, both to see you and all our colleagues from PNG but also to see colleagues from throughout the Pacific Islands region. So I very much look forward to that conversation and pursuing the very important – more than dialogue, the very important work that we’re doing in Washington all together. But like PNG, our own country is incredibly diverse in its population, I think we’re all optimistic in our outlook, we have a strong appreciation for the past. And as you said, Prime Minister, we have a deep and rich shared history. But I think your other point was even in a sense more important because it’s living history, and the work that we’re doing together to try to shape the future could not be more important, could not be more timely. I’m honored to join you for the signing of some very important agreements that we’ve been working on together for some time which we’ll have a chance to talk about later, but also just to deepen our own partnership across the board – something that we very much welcome. So I look forward to this conversation, and again thank you for your hospitality today. Sources: THX News & US Department of State. Read the full article

#Blinken #BureauofEastAsianandPacificAffairs #HIV/AIDS #HIV/AIDSClinic #Medical #OfficeoftheSpokesperson #PapuaNewGuinea #PrimeMinisterMarape #SecretaryBlinken #SecretaryTrip #TheSecretaryofState

0 notes

bobbyfiend · 1 year

Text

This detective isn't like the others

A protagonist with a single superpower: taste.

They try to work this into a career in the restaurant industry but it's still cutthroat and being able to identify individual molecules of flavor with insane accuracy doesn't help as much as they assumed it would. Wine tasting is a wash because the current sommeliers disagree with--and resent--this person who makes them look like fools without increasing their sales margins.

So protag lives on gig work from a hospital and the local cops. For the hospital they taste biopsies, blood samples, and urine/feces samples. They can taste cancer, lupus, HIV, every kind of drug residue, and all kinds of bacteria and viruses. They hate this work because it's disgusting and they keep getting sick. Their health insurance is a nightmare. They are terrified of dying from the next sample they sample.

So they work for the police. It's just as gross but there is slightly less chance of dying from infection and they spend slightly less time sick from the stuff they have to taste. But they have zero respect from any cops (does anyone not on the force, least of all a weirdo who licks footprints, fingerprints, pillows, etc.?). Their days are a nightmare, but they're less likely to die than with medical work.

Of course personal relationships are a minefield. They can taste the last ten things their partner ate every time they kiss. Oral sex? Just imagine. They are compulsively, obsessively neat about cooking and eating implements. There is little or no spontaneous physical affection. They spend tens of thousands (that they can't afford) on cleaning products and water conditioner devices--they're tired of learning with every drink or accidental taste in the shower that there is a dead moose in the reservoir outside town or the treatment plant has a broken filter and is passing extra shit molecules to customers, counteracted by extra chlorine.

Boom, there's your quirky detective setup. I would like to be paid in transfers to my offshore checking account. The one with cashback every time I buy someting from etsy.

#story #worldbuilding #mystery #fiction #not like the other girls #or boys #or enbies

0 notes

hivdoctorsindelhi · 1 year

Video

youtube

Best PEP Treatment For HIV

Hi. My name is Dr Vinod Raina, and I am Delhi's greatest HIV specialist. Today we'll talk about post-exposure prophylaxis. What is the definition of post-exposure prophylaxis? A pharmaceutical regimen that is delivered to a patient after he has been exposed to an STD or HIV is known as post-exposure prophylaxis.

So, what could be the causes?

If a patient has visited a massage parlour, had sex with a sex worker, or had intercourse with a spouse with several sex partners. If the patient who had the exposure with that individual comes to us within 72 hours of the golden time, we can start him or her on PEP therapy (post-exposure prophylaxis).

Therefore there are various forms of PEP. Two drug therapies, three drug therapies, four drug therapies, and five drug therapies were used. When the PEP was first introduced in 2014, there was a medicine called Truvada. It was put to use. It was a two-drug treatment. Yet that was no longer the case. We no longer utilise Truvada at all. The tendency has shifted in recent years. We use three drug therapies, four drug therapies, and five drug therapies. If the patient was at high risk of infection. So, what does this all mean? If a patient had many partners for sex with the sex professional.

If the patient is infected, replace the single stain with several stains. There are stains from Asia, Africa, and North America. And then there's HIV-1 and HIV-2. Thus there are distinct streams, and sometimes there are naturally resistant strains. So at that point, we need to utilise a good PEP, preferably a really strong PEP. Thus PEP consists of four medicines.

Two medications from the primary level and two drugs from the secondary level must be used. For example, suppose the patient is HIV + and a sex worker. And she had managed to get away from the drugs in some way. She or he was taking the medication and had stopped taking the medications, the key meds he was taking for ART, and had left.

Dr. Raina’s Safe Hands Clinic

Dr. Vinod Raina PEP Doctor in Delhi

Address: — Saket E-34, Ekta Apartments near

Malviya Nagar Metro Station Gate No-4 New Delhi-110017

0 notes

k3visathailand · 1 year

Text

K-3 Visa Application in Thailand

You must make sure that you are legally married if you intend to wed a Thai national. If not, you can obtain a Thai marriage certificate that has been certified, which you can include with your K-3 visa application. A traditional Thai wedding is not legally binding, therefore you must make sure you have a current marriage certificate. Additionally, you must arrange for your Thai bride to have a medical examination, which should include an X-ray to check for TB, a history of vaccinations, and other illnesses. The hospital will seal these medical documents, but you can access them at the Embassy.

Form DS-160

To apply for a K-3 visa in Thailand, you must first have the USCIS's clearance before beginning to fill out Form DS-160. Once Form I-129F has been submitted to the National Visa Center, which will then send the petition to the US Embassy in Bangkok, this is done. You'll have to pay the embassy charge once you've received this approval. Depending on your needs, a certain sum of money will be charged as the price. Following completion of the Form DS-160, you must get the paperwork ready for the interview. Keep in mind that incomplete applications can cause a 10-day delay in the issuance of your visa. Make sure to separate the originals from photocopies while preparing all of your paperwork in advance. If you don't have your originals with you, you might be able to produce certified copies instead, which are then given back after being examined.

K-3 Visa Medical examination

You must be wed to the petitioner in order to apply for the K-3 visa. Additionally, a medical exam is required. You must only consult a doctor approved by the Embassy while applying for a visa. The findings of other doctors are not acceptable. At your appointment, you must have all of your medical and immunization records with you. The following is a list of the suggested hospitals. You must also carry a copy of your passport. One of the most crucial steps in the K-3 Visa application procedure is the medical examination. The doctor examines you to check for communicable diseases and vaccination records. The doctor examines you to check for communicable diseases and vaccination records. During this medical test, you might be shocked to learn that HIV and tuberculosis are actual problems. On my YouTube channel, you may discover more videos about the K-3 visa application procedure. Watching this video will also teach you how to apply for a visa to the US.

Filing fee for K-3 Visa

A K-3 visa application in Thailand requires a filing fee of USD 20. Your Thai spouse must be legally wed in order to qualify for a K-3 visa. However, because they are not considered spouses, common-law partners can apply for the K-3 visa. Your interview readiness must be communicated to the American Embassy in Bangkok. However, you can pay less than the whole amount of the visa fee if you're in Thailand on a business trip or if you wish to work there. Each applicant must pay a different filing fee when applying for a K-3 visa in Thailand. The cost of a K-3 visa is typically far less than that of an H-1B visa, though you do have the option of paying this fee through the US Embassy in Bangkok. If you want to work in Thailand, you must submit an application through your nation's embassy. Once you've been approved, get in touch with the consular office of the embassy to find out how your application is progressing.

K-3 Visa Interview process

You must gather the required paperwork before going to the immigration department's office in Thailand for your interview. Your application will be held up for roughly 15 days if you don't gather all of the needed paperwork. Sort your documents into originals and copies. Originals may be replaced with certified copies. These copies will be given back once they have been examined. Although it shouldn't be frightened, this treatment needs to be well thought out and handled. You should follow the directions on how to schedule your interview once the package arrives in the mail. Online or in person at a nearby office, you can choose an appointment. If you'd like, you can also bring an interpreter. It is recommended that children below the age of 18 go with their parent or legal guardian. A notarized letter from the parent should be presented if the applicant is under the age of 18. Visit our website: https://www.k3visathailand.com/k-3-visa-application-in-thailand.php

#K-3 Visa Application in Thailand

0 notes

keywestlou · 1 year

Text

Flora’s Story

Flora’s Story - https://keywestlou.com/floras-story-2/I published Flora's story for the first time August 26, 2013 on one of my stays on the Greek isle of Amorgos. A true to life tale reflecting on how well most of us have it. If you do not agree, complain not. For if you do, Flora's story will put you to shame. Who is Flora? She is the cleaning lady in the pensione I am staying in on Amorgos. She cleans my apartment and every other apartment in the complex once a day. I do not know the exact number of apartments. The building is four stories high and wide, built into a mountain. She cleans toilets, washes the floors, changes the sheets and otherwise keeps each apartment neat and tidy. Seven days a week. Eight to nine hours day. For three straight months. Not for $25 an hour. For 4 Euros an hour. Six dollars American money. Flora speaks excellent English. Also, Albanian and Italian. Flora resides in Albania. She has lived in Albania all her life. She is 41 years old. Single, never married. Albania is a small country in southeastern Europe. Greece borders Albania to the south. Albania has an interesting history. Until 1991, Albania was socialistic. A Communist nation. Being small, it thought it needed the protection of a great power. First, it was in a protectorate of China. Then Russia and Yugoslavia. Following the fall of Communist Russia, Albania became a democracy. A parliamentary democracy. The language is Albanian. The country is considered a top ten place for visitors. Religion is a strange combination. Fifty seven per cent are Muslims, seventeen per cent Christians. Only forty per cent pay attention to their religion, however. Albania is ranked the 13th least religious country in the world. Russia is primarily responsible for the lack of religious fervor. When Russia took over Albania following World War II, it banned religion. All religion. As a result, Albania acquired the distinction of being the world's first atheist state. Today's Muslims and Christians get along well. Tranquility exists between them. Many Muslims are Muslims only because their ancestors became Muslims during the 500 years Turkey controlled Albania. Muslims and Christians intermarry. No problem. Muslim husbands neither dominate nor mistreat their wives as in most other Muslim countries. The partners to the marriage are equal and treat each other accordingly. When Russia initially took over Albania, the illiteracy rate was 85 per cent. Russia initiated immediate steps to correct the problem. Within 12 years, the rate was corrected dramatically. Today, 98.7 per cent of the people are literate. Health care is a problem in today's Albania. A national health program does not exist. Under Russia’s domination, everyone had health care. Today, few. If a person has not money to pay, doctors and hospitals will not provide treatment. There is very little HIV-AIDS in Albania. Less than 100 cases. I thought a little Albanian background would be helpful in understanding Flora's life. Now to Flora. Flora grew up under the Communist system. Her father died when she was seven years old. As indicated, Russia made Albanians literate. Education was important. Flora was a good student. Russia would look at a student's record and decide what that student would be in later life. Doctor, lawyer or Indian chief, so to speak. It was determined when Flora was 10 years old that her talents were best accommodated if she became either a teacher or nurse. Teaching became the choice. High school in Albania is eight years. At age 18, Flora graduated. High school can be described as a professional school. Flora at 18 upon graduation from high school was qualified to be a teacher. She immediately was assigned to a school and started teaching. She continued her education at the university level. Her college degree did not affect her earnings significantly. She earned just a bit more after acquiring her degree. Money was not an issue for her. It was the security of the job. Albanians are put into a mold and can expect job security throughout their lives. Money, no. Flora teaches third class. Notice, not grade. Our grades are their classes. Russia's drive to eliminate illiteracy obviously helped Flora. Without it, she would not have acquired an education nor have become a teacher. Without a father, Flora has been her own decision maker in life. Flora lived under Communism her first 20 years. She says Communism was no good. She and her family, everyone, did not have enough food or clothes. Things have been considerably better under a democratic form of government. Flora presently earns 300 Euros a month as a teacher. Her salary continues through the three summer months when school is closed. Though she says it is not enough, she considers herself middle class. I suspect because she is a teacher. Twelve years ago, she bought a house. A small one. One bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room area, and a very small bathroom. No tub. Just a shower. She borrowed money from friends to purchase the home. The mortgage was recently paid in full. She now owns her home free and clear. She related it was not easy to make the mortgage payments. Her first year as a homeowner, she was earning only 190 Euros a month teaching. The house was important to her and she sacrificed. She claims, and I believe her, that she ate only beans for a whole year. She could not purchase even a quart of milk. She has been working summers to help pay off the house. Now that the house is paid, she works summers to renovate it. New windows, new doors and the like. Her home is everything to her. She describes it as ".....the most beautiful place in the world." She says, "I find peace in my house." Simplicity best describes the previous paragraph. It also reflects well on the state of her soul. She is glad to have summer employment on Amorgos. It is hard work as she describes it, however. She works long days. Earns four Euros an hour. Her employer pays half her rent. Flora does not live in the pensione complex. She rents a room elsewhere. She describes it as dingy. But it works for her. Her share of the rent is 90 Euros a month. She also pays the utility bills. Her employer provides her with lunch each day. That is all Flora eats. She buys no other food. She does not go out after work. She saves every penny. Her sole source of enjoyment is viewing the ocean. She claims in the absence from her home, it gives her peace. Flora is obviously on a mission. Her home. To put together enough monies for its renovation. Flora's widowed mother is 76. She lives with Flora. They share the same bed. Medical is a major concern. Flora puts some money aside to pay doctor and hospital bills in the event her mother becomes ill. As she put it, ".....if you have no money, you die." No medical attention is available without money up front. Interestingly, Albania provides her mother with a pension. Sixty Euros a month. Ten of those Euros are retained by the government to cover the mother's prescription drugs. Her mom has a bad heart. She would like a husband. She stated it in no uncertain terms. "I want a husband!" I was curious as to what she was looking for in a man. She is 41 and still unmarried. By the way, Flora is an extremely beautiful woman. Looks 30. Thin. The face of an angel. Magnificent eyes. Flora says money is not important in her selection of a husband. She prefers ".....a good boy.....a good person.....one who works." Do you go out evenings and try to meet a man. "No, no!" she responded. She never goes out evenings. I am not sure if it was because she did not want to be considered a bad girl or could not afford it. Her sole out of the house activity besides teaching was coffee in the afternoon with female friends. Her best friend is a 20 year old niece. I inquired what she liked to do best for pleasure. Dance was her response. If you do not go out evenings, how do you dance? At parties. How often do you attend parties? Two times a year. Teacher parties. Teaching gives her the next best pleasure. Especially students who may be handicapped in some fashion. She presently has a boy who cannot hear well, but has the ability to speak. She has another boy who is mentally slow. She works extra time with them both. Flora claims there is a benefit to her summer jobs. She gets to travel, to see the world. Last year, it was Italy. This year Amorgos. She considers Amorgos ".....a wonderful place." She believes that people on Amorgos live better than she does in Albania. Her health is good. She tries to take care of herself. There is no money for medical attention were she to get sick. I asked about yearly check ups, she laughed. What check ups? I asked this simple woman what she would like to have that she does not. Her answer came quick. "A car!" She ".....dreams to have one." She walks everywhere, even to work. If the trip is too far, there are buses. Small vans. I asked about vacations. She responded, "For poor people winter is all year, there is no summer." The cleaning job is the most difficult she has had. She has to move swiftly to get all the rooms cleaned. The hours are long. She is tired all the time. I was curious how she got to Amorgos from Albania. First a 16 hour bus ride and then a big ship. The trip took three days. Not bad, she said. Besides a car, what else would make her happy? To only work one job with more pay. She went on to point out that the money here in Amorgos was better than her previous summer employment in Albania. In her home country, she worked every day in the summers for three months from six in the morning to midnight. For 150 Euros a month! Teaching hours are not bad. She teaches four hours in the morning. Then is expected to spend three hours at home in the afternoon preparing for the next day. However, she has been teaching third grade for over 20 years and so preparation does not consume that much time. She told me prices in Albania were no different than on Amorgos. She neither drinks nor smokes, except for an occasional wine at those two teacher parties a year. Her English is self taught. She wanted to learn. Started with children's books and worked her way up. She speaks and writes the language well. Her home town is called Rubik. She tells me it is large. Four thousand people. Such is Flora's story. She has less and wants more. A universal desire. She is working toward her goals. She will attain most of them, if not all. I wish her a car, a husband, and good health at the very least. Americans as a whole have more than most of their brethren worldwide. Flora is an example. We complain. Some of us do have less than others. Some very little. In the overall picture of things, Flora makes up for less with hard work. There are no social agencies, welfare, governmental help or Stephanie Kaples for her. She continues without complaint. We could learn from her.

0 notes

sheawebb8 · 2 years

Text

Overall Solution to "ED" - Generic Generika viagra

If someone uses viagra or virtually any other drug used to treat impotence problems (ED) then he has to be getting alarmed from the price that will he can pay intended for sexual satisfaction. I actually will not suggestions them that that they should stop making use of viagra as a new treatment but My partner and i would definitely recommend them to move for a more affordable choice that supplies the same result inside the end. But let us first analyze what is definitely the problem of which makes a guy use such drugs. It is erectile problems. There are several things responsible with regard to ED. It is usually evaluated at different stage that comprises mindset and medical explanation. If an individual is not physically aroused even any time he commits himself, it can end up being thought as erectile malfunction. ED is continuous inability of generating and maintaining erection difficult enough to sink into. It can happen any kind of time age although ED loves to attack people inside there fifties. Everybody faces an periodic stint of IMPOTENCE. Jointly grows old he is able to experience the particular change in hard-on function. It is usually natural and nothing at all to worry regarding because generic generika viagra is here to save men from getting embarrassed in room. Pfizer introduced dental pill viagra inside 1998 and this created uproar, which is contrary to the effect generally related to a launch of any usual medication. Given that then more then 23 million people have been put this to good employ. Different pharmaceutical firms have launched universal version of potenztabletten. It really is as secure and effective as their brand-name counterparts. Cialis are recommending generic viagra to all those suffering from ED. The benefits have been stimulating and these men have enjoyed their sexual lives simply because before. Trials possess shown that general viagra is secure to work with and could be combined along with a number of medicines that will one is recommended or buys above the counter coming from time to period. There are numerous generic choices of viagra accessible in most portion of the world. Caverta, silagra, Edegra, kamagra, veega, and Meltabs are few trusted general names used by ED patients. Just about all these medicines and even viagra have one main issue in common which is sildenafil citrate. Another common thing will be that most these medicines are generally not effective until and unless some sort of man is actually and mentally turned on by sex need. Erection problems or impotence is an inability regarding a man to get or sustain an erection mainly because of deficit of bloodstream in penis. Will not matter they are sexually stimulated delete word. Typically the causes of IMPOTENCE differ from person to be able to person. As I actually said all these general versions of potenztabletten has a chemical called sildenafil citrate, which is typically the most important products, which helps arterial blood vessels in the penile to relax and expand, by reducing the particular effect associated with an enzyme called pde5. Mainly because of which a lot more amount of blood vessels flows into the particular penis causing hardness of penis in addition to because of this hardness quantity regarding blood flowing out there of the penis gets decreased plus penis gets set up which last regarding long enough time to enjoy the sex act. Just like viagra, generic generika viagra also does not give protection from virtually any sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.

#Cialis

0 notes