Living Without AIDS

Knowledge brings awareness; it delivers the information about HIV/AIDS to you. Knowledge is what you will acquire by reading this book. Thus, the saying that knowledge is potential power is absolutely correct.

In turning the tide against HIV/AIDS, understanding is the key to living without it. Understanding is a significant step after knowledge. Knowledge conveys information, but understanding unravels the mystery behind it. Knowledge is narrowed to what you can see, hear, and read, but thorough understanding helps you acquire the wisdom necessary for actualizing what you have acquired via knowledge. Understanding comes when you ask yourself questions such as: “How can I avoid HIV/AIDS?” and “Why is it that HIV/AIDS may not be readily apparent?” Upon obtaining answers to these questions, you must process your knowledge of the disease into understanding through the use of applied reasoning and meditation. When you follow these steps, wisdom comes in and helps you do what must be done. Wisdom is a force that motivates you to act meticulously. It brings you full knowledge and understanding. Wisdom tells you that abstinence remains your best viable option for avoiding HIV/AIDS. Along with exercising due care in refraining from sharing sharp objects, wisdom also tells you to break out of every relationship that introduces sex as a prerequisite for intimacy or marriage. Do not be fooled into keeping wrong friends, since bad company corrupts good character.

Ever since this outbreak began, it has been documented that more than 25 million people have died from AIDS worldwide, more than from malaria and tuberculosis. It is the most deadly infectious disease among adults and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Fifteen million children have been orphaned by AIDS. This figure is high, and today it is on the rise. Two and a half million people became infected in 2007 alone, and more people are getting infected every day, simply because they lack understanding. What about you?