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#25 |
Living Happily/Living with AIDS |
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For those of you who do not know what "HIV" and "AIDS" are and the difference between the two, let me briefly discuss "HIV/AIDS" |
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"HIV" = Human Immuno deficiency Virus
"AIDS" = Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
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By becoming infected with HIV, you develop a disease referred to as "AIDS". AIDS destroys lymphocytes known as CD4 which confers immunity to other viruses, bacteria, fungus and pathogens and thus the possibility of developing other various diseases increases. |
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By the way, being
infected with HIV does not mean that one has contracted AIDS. One may have been infected with HIV and may have tested positive, but may not show any symptoms for many years (asymptomatic carrier). |
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Moreover, with advanced medicine and the development of medical treatment that suppress the onset of the illness (maintaining conditions as an asymptomatic carrier), the number of people who have AIDS (and cases of fatalities) since after 1996~1997 has decreased significantly. However, the number of people infected with HIV continues to multiply more rapidly, so we are faced with a situation in which we must further confront AIDS. |
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# HIV/AIDS situation worldwide/in Japan |
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WHO/UNAIDS estimates that approximately
40 million people worldwide will be infected with HIV by the end of 2005, and this year, in only one year,
5 million more people may be newly infected by the virus.
The South African region in sub-Saharan Africa has the largest toll with well over 25 million infected. On the other hand, in Japan, the number of people infected with HIV is circa 10,000. This is low relative to world figures, and WHO has specified Japan as a "low-risk country", but specialists view the development of the number of people infected with HIV in Japan as atypical, as Japan
is the only country among developed countries where the number
of people infected is on the rise. |
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| Annual change
in the reported figures of HIV infected patients and AIDS
patients in Japan |
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| Annual change
in the reported country specific,gender specific figures
in Japan |
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This may be attributed to various reasons such as problems with the sex education system and dis-communication within the family, however it is also true that many people are making hardworking efforts on-site to prevent infection increase. |
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There are also companies that support government and NPO activities. Since 1997, under the theme "AIDS is everyone's problem" The Body Shop has been providing donation inclusive products and conducting in-store campaigns especially targeted towards the younger generation. The Body Shop aims to eliminate prejudice and discrimination towards HIV/AIDS and to create a world where each and everyone's human rights will be respected. The Body Shop have made efforts to communicate that HIV/AIDS is not extraordinary, but is an illness anyone has a possibility of becoming infected with. Moreover, that HIV/AIDS is an illness that people can protect themselves against if they have the right knowledge and information. Donation activities are conducted in stores, and the proceeds from its present campaign will be donated to AIDS orphans in Cambodia and for AIDS education programs for adolescents in Japan. |
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Levi's has been focusing on AIDS prevention and education activities for adolescents. Levi's also sponsors the "Red Ribbon Campaign 2005" conducted by Yahoo! JAPAN in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Japanese Foundation for AIDS Prevention. |
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# Pioneering activities in Tokyo Metropolitan Government |
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40% of the reported infections in Japan are from the Tokyo, thus the metropolitan government is making considerable efforts for the enhancement of consultation and medical examination structure, with the Minami-shinjuku Public Health Centre as the hub of activities. The
Minami-shinjuku Public Health Centre is famous for pioneering
ahead of other public health centers in Japan and establishing
free HIV testing and consultation services on weeknights and
non-business days. But the road to its success was littered with difficulties such as budget reduction and counsel from the assembly to "refrain from conducting excessive sex education". |
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"Multitude of reports about infected persons arrive on my desk every day. I don't know their names or faces, but they all seem to be young. If
we don't do something now, things will surely get much worse
in the future". |
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So says Ms. Mami Iida, Vice-Counsellor of AIDS Control Measures of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health. There are various limitations in working as the government. She took initiative to talk to people working on-site and she thought about what activities were effective measures. |
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"Nothing moves forward with only an agreement between the government and NGOs to work together. I believe that it is necessary to see with my own eyes what is being done on-site. This is not merely individual curiosity. Only by knowing what is going on on-site can you truly realize the importance of testing and public communication, and
this
then leads to how this may be passed through the government
filter and applied to effective measures (such as how to secure
the budget for testing and prevention)." |
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It is indeed difficult to quantify and recognize the dissemination of prevention consciousness and the necessity and effect of education activities. However, Ms. Iida believes that we should not give up saying it's "useless to try" but that by steadily gathering data from small communities, it will in the end become a large force. |
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Ms. Mami Iida, Vice-Counsellor of AIDS Control Measures Office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health |
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# The stronghold of activities is "neighborhood communities"? |
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Ms. Iida has many powerful "behind the scenes supporters", and a number of them are gay. |
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"AIDS = a gay illness" is an erroneous understanding, but it
is an undeniable truth that the number of people infected with
HIV is relatively higher among the young MSM (not only limited
to sexuality, the desire of men to have sexual relations with
other men, short for men who have sex with men). Therefore, from early on, HIV/AIDS prevention educational activities were conducted and AIDS patient care support systems were in place within the gay community. Among such, akta, a community center launched in 2003 undoubtedly serves an extremely special and important role. |
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There are countless bars clustered in Shinjuku-nichome; it can't be helped that it has a dark image. akta is located along the main street of this area, and its atmosphere is such that at a glance it may look like a chic cafe. It is run by approximately 40 volunteer staff (of various gender and sexuality). Anyone can look through the brochures and information from myriads of AIDS prevention organizations freely while enjoying tea self-service. |
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akta office staff,
Mr.Yukio Cho |
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Nevertheless, akta is not a place where you can get tested or consult a specialists. "You don't have to have a purpose for coming here. We hope that it will become a place where anyone can come just chill out, and listen to stories about AIDS, a place where people who tested positive for HIV can hang out comfortably" says operational staff, Mr. Yukio Cho. |
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Homosexuality and AIDS is actually not something so far and distant. Even though you don't have HIV/AIDS right now, you may one day realize you are gay, or you youself may become infected, or someone close to you like a family member or friends may be gay or may have HIV/AIDS. If you realize this, it may be worthwhile to visit akta as though you were just paying your neighbor a visit. |
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| akta's white-based interior is clean, fresh and comfortable |
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Community Center akta |
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Dai 2 Nakae Building 301, 2-15-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo |
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TEL & FAX 03-3226-8998 |
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Open Hours: 16:00 - 22:00 daily |
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http://www.rainbowring.org/ |
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Community Space dista |
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Tatsumi Building 211, 17-5 Doyamacho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka |
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TEL & FAX 06-6361-9300 |
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Open Hours |
MON - FRI 17:00 - 22:00 |
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SAT 13:00 - 23:00 |
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SUN 13:00 - 18:00 |
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# Proactively living "OUT" |
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If akta is an "IN" environment that accepts all, akta's substantive activities may be considered as being significantly "OUT". |
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In order to make condoms easier to grab, akta created an original design package. "Deliheal Boys" wearing matching jumpsuits distribute these condoms at gay bars and club events in Shinjuku-nichome. Deliheal Boys have come together to proactively "deliver health" and now they are becoming fixed figures as the new faces in the gay community. Furthermore they conduct numerous fun-filled activities over the weekend such as lounge parties with DJs, teaching sign language, foreign languages and massage, and conducting study sessions for HIV/AIDS. And in cooperation with PLACE TOKYO, HIV positive support group for gays, they began activities known as "Living Together". It was launched to bring to light the voices of HIV infected persons which often times tend to be pushed to the sidelines, thus they conduct talk shows and live events with people who are HIV positive and also publish booklets. |
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Recently, JILL the singer of PARSONZ and rapper BOO has sympathized with such activities, and they have participated in such events transcending the boundaries of sexuality or HIV positive or negative. This movement which began in a small gay community continues to expand its sphere of influence. |
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The jumpsuits and hats are the trademarks of the charming Deliheal Boys. |
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Numerous condom package designs created so people can choose one they prefer. |
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| The photo exhibit held at akta. |
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At Living Together, the voices of people who are HIV positive are introduced in the form of poetry reading and photo essays. |
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# With "interest" AIDS may be eradicated |
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I have lost three friends to AIDS in the past few years, and I wonder if the sadness in losing someone changes depending on the type of illness? The virus known as HIV certainly does exist but so does measures to prevent infection. What is getting most in the way of prevention activities in Japan today is our "indifference". I hope that many people will soon realize that "interest" or concern will become the weapon for fighting HIV, and the best measures for eradicating AIDS from the world. |
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Taisho Nakamura
Born 3 months after Apollo 16 touched down on the moon. Carried on quite a luxurious life during his school years, but now10 years have gone by; he is putting on weight with middle-age and starting to lose hair, heading straight for old-manhood! He is a free writer who continues to experience the subtleties of life.
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| Report/Photographs: Taisho Nakamura |
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