by Kristina Edwards & Brittany Fields
Terry Hamilton, Vice President in the healthcare field, hosted the HIV/AIDS event at Savannah State University in the Social Science Building in room 115. Hamilton works with 11 acute care hospitals in over 100 facilities and is responsible for 20,000 people living with AIDS. Hamilton took a hands-on approach with students, making sure every student was involved and participating.
In the event Hamilton opened with an exercise on drawing a map of HIV and AIDS today in the United States including references to smoking, alcohol, drugs, and sex. As students presented their drawing she helped expand their ideas and explained how anyone could get the disease. She quoted, “50 million American adults drink alcohol” and elaborated on how it can cloud a person’s judgment for sexual happiness, which could lead to the disease. The alcohol trend has increased the number of people living with HIV by 38%. She spoke about the difference between HIV and AIDS. HIV is the virus at its early stage and can be easier to treat rather than AIDS, which is the full blown disease and is harder to treat.
Here are a couple of overall facts about HIV and AIDS that were discussed in the event:
-50,000 NEW HIV infections every year.
-1.1 million people living in the U/S. with HIV and AIDS.
- Blacks or African Americans have the most severe burden of HIV
-There is no country in the world untouched by HIV and AIDS
- Every 9.5 minutes someone is affected that does not know.
- Smoking with HIV and AIDS can vary a patient’s approximated life expectancy greatly
Hamilton ended the session with choosing five students to act as hospital representatives discussing new legislation laws passed on HIV and AIDS. The students in the classroom acted as congressman to answer the question and concerns about the laws.
Anyone can get the disease, so it is very important that students at Savannah State University and worldwide should get into safe habits.