California’s Deadliest Fire

At this time, 125,000 acres have been burned from multiple uncontrolled wildfire with 42 lives lost so far. Many of those who have lost their lives have yet to be identified. This is California’s largest and deadliest wildfire to date. Firefighters from all around are working around the clock to try and stop further damage and deaths.

We would like to thank all the personnel who are working to fight the fire, help evacuees, and identify the bodies of those we have list. Firefighters, doctors, nurses, police, anthropologists, volunteers – we thank you for your duty and kind hearts.

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

 

HIV/AIDS affects all ages and all genders regardless of sexual orientation and preferences. With medical advances in the last 20-30 years, HIV/AIDS has no longer become a death sentence for those diagnosed and living with thie life-long virus. The stigmas that have followed this virus have created much concern for those living with HIV/AIDS, but Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) is able to suppress the virus and prevent it from replicating; this allows the person to live a full life!

The goal of ART is to reach a testing level of Undetectable. Todays tests can only read 20 or more copies of the virus per drop of blood. When these machines cannot detect more than 20 copies of the virus, the person is deemed Undetectable (as opposed to cured since there is no cure at this time and the virus continues to remain in the system at some level). Recent studies have lead to Undetectable=Untransmittable meaning the person living with HIV cannot spread the virus to another person at a 99% rate.

The continuing advances in ART allow for quicker results and less side effects. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported, in 2014, of Americans diagnosed 45% were aged 50 and older; 40% of those aged 55 and older were diagnosed with AIDS at the time of HIV testing. It is important to get tested routinely and engage in safer sex practices.

Show your support by wearing a Red Ribbon! Check out all of our various options for this cause by following this link: APW RED RIBBON PRODUCTS

This cause will also continue on Saturday, December 1, 2018 as we come together for World AIDS Day!