El mensaje de VÃ­ctor

El mensaje de Víctor

Por Destiny López, directora de Movilización Latina de Planned Parenthood

A los 19 años, edad en la que los jóvenes en Estados Unidos empiezan a independizarse de sus padres, Víctor Martínez rara vez se despega de su madre. Cada día, Víctor se asegura de que su mamá tome unos 30 medicamentos contra el VIH. El saber que tiene el virus ha permitido a su madre, Gabriela Martínez, recibir el tratamiento médico que ha prevenido que desarrolle el SIDA.

Cuando no está cuidando a su mamá, Víctor concurre a ferias de salud en Washington, DC, Maryland y Virginia. "Hablo con la gente, les cuento mi historia y cómo es vivir con alguien que es VIH positivo", dice el joven, que trabaja como educador sexual de Planned Parenthood de Metropolitan Washington, DC. "Les explico las formas en que se pueden transmitir la enfermedad y cómo prevenirla, desde mantenerse abstemio hasta usar preservativos".

Víctor también insta a todas las personas a ir al centro de salud más cercano para hacerse la prueba de VIH/SIDA. La misma puede ser tan simple como pasar un hisopo por la lengua. El resultado se conoce unos 20 minutos después, y en base a ello se puede vivir más tranquilo, sabiendo que no se tiene el virus, o bien saberse seropositivo y empezar un tratamiento médico, a la vez que se toman recaudos para no contagiar a otros.

Gente como Víctor está haciendo lo suyo para combatir el flagelo del SIDA, que es la cuarta causa de muerte entre latinos de 35 a 44 años de edad en Estados Unidos. Hay más de un millón de personas en este país que viven con VIH, y uno de cada cinco de ellos no sabe que tiene el virus que provoca el SIDA. El VIH y otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual muy a menudo no presentan síntomas y por ende no son diagnosticadas a tiempo. Las pruebas de detección y el tratamiento pueden salvar vidas y reducir la propagación del VIH y otras enfermedades transmitidas sexualmente.

Como parte de una campaña de salud en diez ciudades del país -Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Houston, Los Ángeles, Miami, Newark, Nueva York y Washington, D.C.- clínicas como las de Planned Parenthood ofrecerán toda esta semana pruebas de VIH gratis o a muy bajo costo, culminando con el Día Nacional de la Prueba del VIH, el domingo 27 de junio.

"Hagámonos todos la prueba", dice Víctor, "por el bien de nuestras familias y nuestra comunidad".

¿Y tú ya te hiciste la prueba?

No te pierdas:
- ETS: Un enemigo en la cama
- Cómo hablar con los adolescentes sobre las enfermedades de transmisión sexual

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SIDA en el Mundo

SANDTON, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 17: HIV/AIDS activists demonstrate in front of the American consulate on June 17, 2010 in the Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, South Africa. More than a thousand demonstrators marched demanding that the US government increase its funding for anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to treat Africans with HIV/AIDS. South Africa has the most people living with HIV of any nation in the world. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

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SIDA en el mundo

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 25: Suzanne Africa Engo arrives in Johannesburg Airport on June 25, 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa. Activist Suzanne Africa Engo is in South Africa in order to complete her "I LOVE AFRICA" run initiative during the 2010 World Cup.She is holding a packet of Bono's (Nike) Product Red Laces campaigning against HIV and AIDS.( Photo by Patrick Barth/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Suzanne Africa Engo

SIDA en el mundo

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 25: Suzanne Africa Engo arrives in Johannesburg Airport on June 25, 2010 Johannesburg, South Africa. Activist Suzanne Africa Engo recently completed the 'I Love Africa' run initiative. She is holding a packet of Bono's (Nike) Product Red Laces campaigning against HIV and AIDS.( Photo by Patrick Barth/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Suzanne Africa Engo

SIDA en el mundo

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 21: Disadvantaged youth practice headers while at a camp run by the South African Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA) on June 21, 2010 in Soweto, South Africa. Five such camps spread across the country are funded jointly by South African businesses and the U.S. government. The month-long program is designed to educate some 1,500 children on HIV/AIDS prevention as well as help parents with daycare during the World Cup school holiday. Children in the camps are also taught soccer, dance and theater and are given two full meals a day. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

SIDA en el mundo

Scottish musician Annie Lennox sports an "Hiv Positive" shirt as she arrives at the party to celebrate Dolce & Gabbana brand 20th anniversary, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, June 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Giuseppe Aresu)

SIDA en el mundo

MASERU, LESOTHO - JUNE 17: Prince Harry takes part in a game with HIV affected children at the Mamahato Network Club at King Letsie's Palace on June 17, 2010 in Maseru, Lesotho. The two Princes are on a joint trip to Africa which takes in Botswana, Lesotho and finally South Africa. During that time they will visit a number of projects supported by their respective charities Sentebale (Prince Harry) and Tusk Trust (Prince William). The trip will culminate with the brothers watching the England vs Algeria World Cup match in Cape Town. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Prince Harry

SIDA en el mundo

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 17: In this handout image supplied by the FA, Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt (not pictured) and Sir Trevor Brooking visit Coaching for Hope at Cape Peninsula University of Technology on June 17, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. Coaching for Hope, one of The FA's official charity partners, received a special visit to one of its coaching courses in South Africa today from Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, who attended alongside The FA's Director of Football Development, Sir Trevor Brooking. Coaching for Hope has been the official FA International Charity Partner since 2007 and uses the power of football to improve the lives of young people in Africa, raising awareness of HIV and AIDS. During the visit at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town, the Secretary of State and Sir Trevor Brooking met Jane Carter, the Coaching for Hope Director and Martin Allen, former manager of MK Dons, Barnet, Brentford, Cheltenham Town and Leicester City. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images/The FA via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sir Trevor Brooking

SIDA en el mundo

MASERU, LESOTHO - JUNE 17: Prince Harry and Prince William take part in a game with HIV affected children at the Mamahato Network Club at King Letsie's Palace on June 17, 2010 in Maseru, Lesotho. The two Princes are on a joint trip to Africa which takes in Botswana, Lesotho and finally South Africa. During that time they will visit a number of projects supported by their respective charities Sentebale (Prince Harry) and Tusk Trust (Prince William). The trip will culminate with the brothers watching the England vs Algeria World Cup match in Cape Town. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Prince Harry;Prince William

SIDA en el mundo