Stop HIV/AIDS in its Tracks with Education

A nine year saga of HIV Positive patient Shenequa Flucas is an eye opener to the benefits of HIV education, known to hold the key to curb its escalation.

She was diagnosed with aids in 1997 and subsequently delivered her second baby. Depressed with low self esteem, she is today, a changed person, because of the education and encouragement she received, that opened her mind rather than closing it. According to her, education will be the only silver lining on the cloud of HIV infections among black women. Fortunately, HIV has spared all her three children.

"I thought I'd be dead by now," said the 29-year-old single mother of three. "I didn't see me coming out of this." "I had all kinds of pain inside of me," Flucas said. "People were treating me different, and then I was just like, 'Maybe if I educate them, I'll help myself in the process.'

The University of Texas Medical Branch recently hosted the third annual observance of National Black AIDS Awareness Day. Flucas was one of the speakers in the program that focused on the escalating numbers of HIV/AIDS, especially amongst black females aged between 14 and 24. Flucas during the meet, mixed with young people, and held frank debates about safe sex and the dangers of unhealthy behavior, that could put them at risk for HIV/AIDS.