Thoughts about AIDS and HIV

The never-ending caption between reading the lines of sex is the transitioning of disease called AIDS through HIV. This has scattered as rumors that sex has always been tied to as an illness on a case basis. Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is the one that causes AIDS. Normal illness affect immune system but is controllable by doctor medication. HIV is a virus that scatters on the human immune system that supports illness. CD4 is the type of white blood cells that targets the infection. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) are the most developed type of illness that can be seen in HIV. AIDS are caused by HIV. Long term side effects of the illness make a person die due to AIDS.

Difference between HIV and AIDS:

The difference between HIV and AIDS is, you cannot not have AIDS if you already have HIV. For a couple of years, you can never determine or see the effects or signs of the disease. As for our generation today, people infected by HIV can now be under be medication and treatment. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can determine if the person has AIDS if they go on lab tests and are positive in HIV, they had had at least one positive of the 21 AIDS-defining opportunistic infections and has the CD4 cell result of less than 200 cells.

Signs that positive HIV:

We can never say and pin-point the symptoms of the infection not, unless you’ll take an HIV test. It usually ended up to 12 weeks for an HIV test result to be positive. Exposure to HIV symptoms usually occurs two to four weeks.  If in case you go on positive with the HIV test, so therefore your body is infected; which means that the immune system will take some antibodies to battle the virus. It also includes fever, muscle aches and rashes and swollen glands.

We have common misconceptions in line with HIV and AIDS. The much rumored misconception is “HIV doesn’t cause AIDS”. The truth beyond the myth is that – if you don’t have HIV, you don’t have AIDS as well. And, if you have AIDS, you have HIV. The second much rumored misconception is – “the medicines, they take that killed people and not the AIDS.” The truth beyond the myth is that HIV treatment called antiretroviral, don’t cure people with HIV, but they can keep the person healthy for a couple of years. And the last misconception is – “AIDS test can’t be tested”. The truth beyond the myth is – AIDS test measures the body response to HIV, which is called the antibodies. One of the reliable HIV antibody test sources for is ELISA. The CDC is 99% accurate.

HIV is transmitted not only through sex but also in many different ways. HIV is multiplied through body fluids like vaginal fluids, breast milk, blood and semen and other male sexual fluids. You cannot transmit HIV from tears, sweat and spit of saliva. The most common way in which HIV is transmitted is through re-using of needles to inject heroin, drugs and methamphetamine. This process can be reduced by using a bleach solution to cleanse the needle before use of other purposes. Body piercing and tattoo should also be under the license professional to operate equipment. Unsafe sex is the most common HIV transition – may it be anal, oral or vaginal. Barriers such as dental dams, condoms or even latex gloves help reduce the risk substantially in having HIV. Mother-to-child transmission such as breast-feeding, birth and pregnancy, is also one way of transmitting HIV. Mothers with positive HIV can pass the infection to their babies while pregnant, during birth and while on breastfeeding. Mothers with positive HIV should not breast-feed their babies for safer purposes.

Uncommon transmission of HIV

Using a razor is very unusual for HIV transmission, but – it really did infect a number of people already. Using a toothbrush immediately after use of the other person who has HIV could also transmit the virus but on rare cases only. One rare documented case of HIV transmission is “French Kissing” with two individuals having severe dental problems. For safer purposes, avoid contact with blood and sex fluids so as not to be transmitted from HIV.

AIDS: what is more to combat within?

AIDS are an epidemic dilemma; it started way back in the 80’s when HIV/AIDS were publicly identified as a new communicable disease. Though the disease was seen as a disease of gay males for they were concluded as the first host, it spread rapidly from time on that anyone regardless of sex, age, cultural status and races can be infected easily with the disease. To refresh things up, AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) are a disease caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus). HIV is a pathological disease which is communicable; it is acquired through infected blood, contaminated instruments and prolonged contact with an infected person.  It attacks our immune system by rapidly entering our blood and replicating our white blood cells, which make it difficult for our immune system to recognize and destroy the virus that suppresses our immunity to infection. And since blood circulates all over the body it affects our major organs, which result to multiple organ failure then death follows.

However, there is more to this disease other than suffering from its symptoms alone, and that is the reactions of the people around. From the time HIV/ADIS was identified, this epidemic dilemma is accompanied by social responses like stigma, denial, fear and discrimination. For unlike sexual diseases like Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Herpes Zoster and more, HIV/AIDS from this present time don’t have a remedy. With this, it then brings fear to the people of such death that awaits to all if infected. For others, HIV/AIDS brought them compassion, solidarity and support, bringing out the best in people, their families and communities, but, we cannot deny the fact that it also brings negative responses. That it also associates stigma, repression and discrimination to the persons infected.

All around the world, persons living with HIV/AIDS faces many problems in their society. This includes not only the risk of losing the people close to them but also losing their reputation as an individual. Being treated differently likens one to an unwanted animal. Discrimination is the unfair treatment to these persons for they still are human beings like us. This happens because people are not knowledgeable enough of the virus—HIV. We know that we can easily be infected by such disease but in certain ways. Others may have the wrong understanding on how to acquire the virus that results to other forms of discrimination like; avoiding shaking of hands, sharing the same glass or plate and kissing. These acts cannot infect others with the virus but because a lot of people are still ignorant about the disease, it then leads to discrimination.

Another problem the infected people encounter is the unfairness towards their work, housing and education. Regarding their work, if ever an employer finds out an employee is taking medication for such disease; it will most likely result for the employee to be looking for another job. Although it deeply depends on what type of workplace the infected person is into, still it affects the working relationship with their workmates, which leads to harassment and results to discontinue working there. Same to those landlords that forbid HIV positive persons to rent their place and infected students who get kicked out of school for this reason.

We cannot allow this to progress any longer; we have to put a halt on this stigma and discrimination towards the AIDS victims. We have to change the attitude of the people’s view about AIDS, and we know that the root cause of such an act is because of lack of knowledge and understanding towards the disease. In short, people need to be educated. We cannot rely on the policy or law enforced in overcoming this negative act; it has to come out initially from us. People in the community must work together in doing such a task. We have to let everyone be aware of all the necessary things, there is to be done. For in doing so, we not only help the infected ones and the whole community but also ourselves.

This has nothing to do with being good or bad in doing such an act. This is all about education and changing our behavior towards it. The only way to stop the stigma and discrimination, aside from understanding the disease itself is when we see the HIV/AIDS people as a person like everyone else, with challenges to face, and hopes and dreams for the future.

AIDS: Transmission Facts and Myths

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a medical health condition characterized by a very weak immune system and its inability to fight infections. AIDS is caused by a virus called Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that progressively attacks the immune system. The immune system functions as natural body defense against infectious bacteria and viruses. When the immune system damage caused by the HIV reaches a very weak stage to fend off infections, AIDS is said to have developed.

AIDS origin and how it developed in the human body is a subject of debates by medical scientist. Based on many studies HIV is actually an evolved form of SIV found in primate species. How SIV virus crossed to the human species and developed into HIV is still being studied, and many theories are put forward in attempt to solve this mystery.

AIDS is incurable. Although AIDS per se is not life threatening, it leaves the body open for opportunistic infections and diseases. These opportunistic infections take advantage of the opening offered by an undermined immune system. Although AIDS is incurable, antiretroviral treatments are available to inhibit or prolong the period from HIV infection to the inception of AIDS.

AIDS is considered a global epidemic. Since the first reported case of AIDS in humans in 1981, it claims 25 million lives or more. Based on World Heath Organization (WHO) AIDS statistics for 2007, there are 33 million cases in the world.

Region	HIV/AIDS Cases (in millions)
Sub-Saharan Africa	22.0
North Africa & Middle East	0.38
Asia	5
Oceania	0.074
Latin America	1.7
Caribbean	0.23
Eastern Europe & Central Asia	1.5
North America, Western & Central Europe	2.0
.

Due to the rising trend of AIDS cases in the world, global scale information and awareness drive are continuously undertaken to promote awareness to the general populace and to dispel disadvantageous and misleading misconceptions regarding the disease. Out of fear and ignorance, many myths are circulated on transmission of AIDS.

Since transmission is an important aspect of the AIDS prevention, it very important to be aware of how this disease is transferred and contacted. Here are the facts of AIDS transmission.

• Vaginal Sex – An infected person’s sexual fluids are found to contain HIV, which means seminal fluids of men and vaginal fluids of women during sex can contaminate and infect the sexual partner.
• Anal Sex – A higher risk of transmission is found on anal intercourse. Anal linings are found to be more delicate and prone to lacerations and damage during sex thus increasing the probability of HIV transmission. This is underscored by the fact that early reported AIDS in humans occurred on the gay populace where this is prevalent.
• Oral Sex – This transmission mode carries smaller risk of transmission. Seminal or vaginal fluids when enters the mouth can infect a person especially when gum and mouth sores are present.
• Injecting Drugs – This is a high-risk transmission mode prevalent on drug users. Sharing needles, syringes, and injections is considered an efficient way to transmit HIV than sexual intercourse.
• Mother-child transmission – Infected pregnant mothers transmit HIV on their unborn infants during pregnancy and delivery. Also, breastfeeding can transmit HIV on the child.
• Blood transfusions and products – This case is now very rare. Modern medical practice on blood transfusion utilizes a strict test to detect HIV and other diseases prior to these activities.
• Tattoos and piercing – This activity potentially allows blood transfusion on smaller amounts through tattoo and piercing equipments.

Transmission myths are circulated among the less-informed populace and promote unsolicited fear and panic. Among the prevalent myths about AIDS transmission are the following.

• Kissing – Is a well circulated myth on AIDS transmission. Truth is saliva does not contain HIV and that a generous quantity of virus is needed for such transmission to occur.
• Sharing Utensils, Sneezing, and coughing – It is important to be aware that the HIV virus cannot live outside its host like on the glasses, spoons, or utensils used by an infected person. Also HIV cannot survive on the air. These activities do not transmit HIV.
• Insects – Many studies show negative transmission chance on this mode. HIV cannot live on insects like mosquitoes.

Learning more about HIV and AIDS

Do you know someone who has HIV or AIDS? This is commonly known to be a condition that does not have a total cure. This is what most individuals don’t like. If you have this you will probably be in controversy among people. Some are rejected by their friends because of such a condition.

Do you want to know about HIV and AIDS? Let us start by knowing the difference between AIDS and HIV. Do you think both are the same? Let’s find out. AIDS mean Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. From the word acquired it means that it is passed to individuals through direct or indirect contact excluding genetic and inborn. In this case, the individual is having a low immune system meaning he or she is very prone to different infections. It is also stated that it is a syndrome, meaning it has numerous signs and symptoms. Next is HIV. This means Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is a type of virus that can eventually trigger AIDS. This virus is capable of destroying the immune system of our body. It requires a lot of time before an infected person will show its signs and symptoms. This will result to further transmission of the virus. The person may think that he is not infected where, in fact, he is.

Let us understand how HIV attacks our body. When the virus is already present in our system it will destroy several types of cells. Mostly, it attacks cells that are part of the immune system. The virus will eventually stick itself to a molecule called the CD4. As the virus enters its surface it will release its genetic material responsible for its replication. In a certain period, the invaded cell will die and the new HIV cell is produced. This process is rapid that our immune system can no longer fight the invading microorganism.

Now we know how the virus acts on our body. Let’s now familiarize the different signs and symptoms of this condition. Actually, an infected individual will stay free from manifestations and may even appear like a healthy normal person. As the period of invasion progresses, the person will gradually experience loss of memory, disturbed gait, sleep cycle alterations, and even depression… In cases of a severe condition of this disease the person may require absolute treatment. In Human Immunodeficiency Virus, there are so called minor and major signs. The minor signs would include coughing persistently for about a month or two, having a herpes zoster, having herpes simplex, and general pruritic dermatitis. On the other hand, the major signs would include sudden weight loss, diarrhea for a long period, and chronic fever that may be due to some infection in the system.

Do you know what are the common signs and symptoms of Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus and Human Immunodeficiency virus? Always remember these signs and symptoms are not confirmatory manifestations of the condition. The symptoms include depression, loss of weight, general weakness, nausea and vomiting, Candida Albicans, and diarrhea. Because of low immune system status, it would be easy for opportunistic infections to set in the body system. Let us know these infections. It includes the bacterial infections (example: tuberculosis), viral infections (example: hepatitis), fungal infections (example: Candidiasis), pneumonia infections (example: Bacterial pneumonia), and parasitic infection (example: Toxoplasmosis). What are the modes of transmission of this disease? It can be transferred by an infected person to another individual through sexual intercourse, blood transfers, maternal to fetal circulation.

There are risk factors for having such a condition. This includes the reusing of needles, unscreened blood transfusion, donation of organ, exposure to some places. How to know if you are having this kind of disease? Actually there are a lot of diagnostic procedures for this condition but despite it, the best thing you can do is to have a confirmatory test. This test is called the Western blot analysis. This will save time and money. Just be practical enough. What is the treatment? Your doctor would probably prescribe you with Anteroviral drugs. Remember that this drug will not cure HIV or AIDS. It will just decrease the reproduction rate of the virus. All types of virus cannot be killed by medications.

Facts on HIV and AIDS that you Need to Know

• Due to media sensationalism and lack of information, many people believe that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) only affects the gay population. This myth that keeps coming back has been disproved by health professionals because the truth is, HIV can be contracted by anybody of any age (even babies can get this virus too), ethnicity or sexual orientation from blood-to-blood contact, sharing of needles with an infected person and unsafe sexual activity. Although generally penetrative sex acts carry a risk of transmitting HIV, there is a higher risk of contracting HIV through anal than vaginal sex due to a much weaker lining of the rectum than that of the vagina. Ordinary condoms are also not reliable when used in anal sex because they tend to easily tear apart.
• Having HIV doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to die. Diagnosed HIV patients can now live longer and have a healthy life compared in the past, thanks to the medical breakthroughs.
• It is true that you can get HIV from oral sex. Whether sex is penetrative or receptive, as long as it is unprotected, you can get the virus. HIV can be transmitted from one person to another through exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Thus, make sure you don’t get any vaginal secretions (including menstrual blood) or semen in your mouth because if you do, you make a very strong and perfect candidate of getting HIV.
• The difference between HIV and AIDS is that HIV is a virus, which may lead to AIDS while the latter is a group of diseases that the body cannot fight off. Therefore, they are not the same.
• Unfortunately, a cure or a vaccine for HIV has not been found and discovered yet. HIV medications only control the virus but do not get rid of them.
• To confirm your suspicions if you have been infected, it is very important to have yourself tested immediately. Not only will an early diagnosis help you but you will also be able to prevent the spread to other people. However, you have to wait at least 3 months to have yourself tested for HIV after having unsafe sex. But if you insist to get tested right away, your results may be inaccurate since HIV antibodies may take up to 12 weeks to be developed.
• HIV does not affect fertility therefore; women infected with HIV can have children. A pregnant HIV infected woman can even have a healthy baby but the chances of transferring the disease to your child is normally 15-30% and reduced to 2-3% upon adhering to medical guidelines. So seek medical advice to discuss things with your doctor. You also need to know that HIV can be transmitted to your babies through breastfeeding.
• It is believed that Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), a pathogen circulating in Chimpanzees, is a predecessor of HIV, probably transferred to humans by means of blood contact during the hunting of an infected animal. The first ever recorded HIV death was in Congo in 1959.
• It is a faulty notion that swallowing bleach will kill HIV. This bizarre AIDS myth does not kill the virus but kills you.
• The widespread-forwarded email message stating madmen leaving syringes containing HIV infected blood to pass on a disease to innocent people are nothing but a lousy scare. Movie theater chairs, random injections at night clubs, coin slots on payphones and gas pump handles are all possible means to get the virus. However, none of them qualified as a real threat for there are no recorded instances of people acquiring the virus through any of these methods. But if you are still worried to death about this matter, perhaps the following specifics can help you: first, the HIV virus cannot survive long enough outside its host hence discarded needles are not likely to be a danger and second, there is approximately a one in 200 chance of becoming infected with HIV even if injected with a syringe of fresh HIV infected blood.
• You cannot get AIDS via mosquito bites because the way mosquitoes spread the likes of yellow fever and malaria is not how the HIV is transmitted. Mosquitoes transmit through their saliva and not by injecting blood to their victims.
• Having one sexual partner does not save you from HIV. You’ll never know what your partner has done in the past so it pays to be careful and protect yourself always.

Hopefully this information will help the readers of this article to better understand a disease that has much half-truths.

The Struggles of a Person Battling Against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a combination of signs and symptoms forming a distinct clinical image of a disorder. As it implies, it is acquired meaning it is neither congenital nor hereditary. It involves a suppression of the one’s immune system thereby increasing the risk of infections. If the immune system of a person goes down, there will be an increase in the susceptibility of that person to various infections, which has a very high probability to eventually arrive at death. Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV is the causative agent of AIDS. It’s a type of retrovirus, which is also described as a slow type of virus, that is, the period between the onset of infection and the appearance of symptoms tends to be longer thereby giving an opportunity for these microorganisms to be transmitted to other hosts. The incubation period or the time between the infection and the appearance of AIDS is about seven to twelve years. A diagnostic evaluation to know whether a person really has AIDS is to obtain the CD₄ count of that person. The normal CD₄ count is around 500- 1500. This is done to  have a distinction between HIV positive individuals from individuals categorized as having AIDS. The confirmatory diagnostic test is the western blot analysis.

The signs and symptoms of an individual that is infected by HIV or has AIDS are fatigue, loss of weight for about ten percent of the total body weight, chronic cough for one month, persistent diarrhea, prolonged fever, appearance of oral thrush in the buccal cavity, nausea and vomiting, and repeated infections. The mode of transmission of these microorganisms is through sexual intercourse, transmission from a pregnant female to the fetus during pregnancy, during breast-feeding, during child birth, through blood transfusion, sharing of needles or syringes infected with HIV, and through organ donation.

As the virus enters into the body of an individual, the virus rapidly mutates thereby making it a very difficult task for the body’s immune system to recognize the foreign microorganism. Treatment is therefore, very important for the survival of an individual infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The drugs used as treatment modalities for AIDS are not actually used to treat or cure the abovementioned infection and these drugs are known as enteroviral drugs. These types of drugs inhibit the reproduction of HIV. One group of enteroviral drugs used as medical management is called Protease Inhibitors. These drugs inhibit protease enzymes, which are essential for the formation of the virus. Some of the drugs available in the market classified as Protease Inhibitors are Saquinavir, Indinavir, and Ritonavir. Another group of enteroviral drugs used as medical management for AIDS is Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors. These drugs work by inhibiting the enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, which is important in the replication of the virus. Some of the drugs available in the market classified as Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors are Didanosine, Lamivudine, Zalcitabine, Stavudine, Nevirapine, and Zidovudine.

Since AIDS had no cure up to this time, how can an individual prevent the acquisition of HIV? What are the important roles of the health care department in order to promote prevention? What is the responsibility of the government with regards to this issue? Now, given the fact that AIDS do not have a cure only emphasizes one thing and that is prevention. An individual can prevent acquiring HIV if he or she is well educated about it. This puts emphasis or highlights the roles of the health care workers. Giving awareness to the public about the modes of transmission, and the necessary precautions so as to prevent acquiring AIDS will create a big difference. Again, the key is prevention through information dissemination. Health education to the people who has HIV infected relatives or family members are also very important. Putting emphasis on not sharing personal things such as toothbrush and razor blades is essential to prevent the spread of HIV. In addition, promotion of safer health practices is also important and this can be done using  condoms. Since organ donation is one mode of transmission of HIV, it is therefore, strictly discouraged for a person with AIDS to donate his or her organs.

A person with AIDS is experiencing not only possible infections but also the shame of having it. Therefore, family support is important in the management of the condition.

AIDS: A Worldwide Concern

Each year, mortality rates for AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is constantly increasing. It has affected millions of individuals all throughout the entire globe. It affects all individuals including children. Africa is the continent mostly affected by this disease. It is said that the first recorded case was from Los Angeles and was finally traced by experts that its origin is the continent of Africa. At this time, experts are trying to discover treatments for this disease but until now there is still no known cure for AIDS.

AIDS is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. A person infected with this virus usually appears asymptomatic for a longer period of time, and it slowly suppresses the immune system of infected patients. Once the immune system of those infected with the virus becomes too weak, opportunistic infections might occur and cause further damage to the health of the patient. A patient will be considered infected with AIDS if his CD4+ T cell count lowers to 200. If the CD4+ count is above 200, it is still considered as HIV. The CD4+ count will determine the status of the patient’s immune system.

There are many ways to diagnose HIV and AIDS. The first one is the HIV antibody test. Those infected with the virus produced antibodies to HIV in the blood. If an individual who submits himself to HIV antibody test will definitely have negative results if he does this during the window period of the disease which is 21 days to 6 months. This does not mean that the patient is not infected of the virus it only shows that the body has not produced the antibodies yet. Therefore, the patient should continue taking precautions. This is not the confirmatory test for HIV. A more accurate diagnostic test is the Western Blot Test. It is a confirmatory test to HIV, which supports the HIV Antibody test. There is also a diagnostic test specific for infants; PCR or polymerase chain reaction can be utilized.

AIDS is a syndrome. Therefore, it is a mix of signs and symptoms. These symptoms are the result of the impairment in the immune system. Common signs and symptoms include sinus infection, depression, persistent diarrhea, Kaposi’s sarcoma and lymphadenopathy. There are still other signs and symptoms depending on the type of opportunistic infection that the patient has acquired after his immune system became impaired. There are treatments available nowadays that slow the progression of the disease, and it has been of great help to patients that are affected. It is very expensive though and limited in distribution that is why others are unable to benefit from these treatments. There are even celebrities who are infected with HIV and their condition did not progress to AIDS because of their treatment regimen.

There are a lot of ways to acquire the virus. The most common is through sexual intercourse, being pricked by a needle that is infected and blood transfusion. It is best for people to know and understand how the virus is being transmitted so that they will be aware on how to prevent acquisition of the disease. Pregnant women that are infected with the virus usually infect their baby with HIV. This disease is indeed highly infectious.

The world has organized programs to help solve the problem with regards to the increasing number of individuals who acquire the disease. The campaign for the awareness and maturity of people to deal with the disease is being strengthened by certain groups. Even celebrities are urging people to practice safe sex and use preventive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. It is a pandemic already and instead of discriminating persons with HIV it is best to offer them emotional support because these patients are feeling so down, and they need to be educated so that they will not engage in activities that will spread the virus. There are still millions of individuals who are not aware of this condition, and it is best to participate in programs that will help increase the awareness regarding the effects of having the disease. It might be difficult to eradicate this disease but a simple sense of responsibility will definitely cause a change.

In the Midst of Agony

AIDS – Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome, the epidemic that has caused extreme agony in Africa. As global trends for this disease rise, the continent is facing a more challenging course. The number of people living with HIV has risen from around 8 million in 1990 to 33 million today, and is still growing, 67% of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that adults living with AIDS are to be around 30.8 million, women accounting to 15.5 million, and around 11.6 million children being orphaned because of AIDS. The statistics may be shocking, but it is important to introduce ourselves to the causes of this condition that defiled the global community.

AIDS is an advanced HIV virus infection wherein the number of immune system cells, CD4 in the blood drops to a certain level as being attacked. As this virus gradually and progressively attacks the immune system cells, the body can become more vulnerable to infections. This virus is not transmitted through food, mosquitoes or even in close contact with an HIV-positive person. Many would think that it’s only cause is unprotected vaginal, oral, anal, and unsafe sex. However, why are children infected? Why are the sexually inactive people still infected? It is caused by the usage of HIV-infected syringes or needles. Mother to baby transmission during pregnancy or childbirth is also possible as HIV virus can be transmitted through drinking breast milk.

As this virus spread like wild fire across the world, shrinking it to a global village, third-world countries are much more affected than first-world countries. Why is this so? This is due to the lack of funds, support, and attention given by the government. It is the governance of the region that is prolonging the agony. As former President Mbeki consistently refused to acknowledge that HIV is the cause of AIDS, having no thorough study in his theories, he argued that HIV is just one factor amongst many that might contribute to deaths resulting from immune deficiency, alongside others such as poverty and poor nutrition. Similarly, Yahya Jammeh, the president of Gambia, claims that he has discovered a cure for AIDS. Having no medical degree, being only a former army colonel, declares that this herbal medication as revealed by his ancestors in his dreams is the panacea for AIDS. It is in this outlook that slows the provision of antiretroviral drugs in Africa. As the only recognized drug to significantly delay the progression of HIV to AIDS, antiretroviral (ARV) drugs allow people living with HIV live relatively normal and healthy lives. Yet because of the lack of support by the political bodies in the region, the distribution of this drug has been inadequate; there has been poor medical education and health awareness; severe deprivation of healthcare infrastructure; and an insufficient number of medical professionals to tender these people requiring treatment. Take note that medical treatment doesn’t only involve taking these antiretroviral drugs but counseling and testing, food management nutrition, protection from stigma and discrimination, treatment of other sexually transmitted infections, and the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections.

In response to the unresponsive governance in Africa, global organizations such as the United Nations and US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Global Fund to fight AIDS in numerous countries. Other organizations such as AidsandAfrica, use the internet as a medium to encourage people to be proactive in fighting AIDS. As Africans become aware and vigilant to the distressing condition, local association about are now becoming vigorous such as Children in Distress (CINDI), focused on helping meet the needs of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS; The Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundation, by former President Kenneth Kaunda, which supports independent low-cost HIV testing and counseling Clinic; The Luke Society of Uganda dedicated to help HIV-positive convalescents susceptible to pneumonia, tuberculosis, malaria, and related infections; and AIDS Orphans Education Trust(AOET) committed in providing formal and vocation education to the underprivileged orphans.

In the midst of agony and devastation, one action can make a difference, one voice can be audible. So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by a virus called HIV, human immunodeficiency virus. If the virus gets into the bloodstream, it attacks parts of the body’s immune system. It means that the body cannot fight off any disease because the immune system is not functioning normally. Luc Monatagnier and Robert Gallo reported the discovery of AIDS in 1980, although it was reported that AIDS existed in Africa before that period.

AIDS will be a health problem for a long time. It is important for you to know how to avoid infection. As a young individual, you need to take responsibility for protecting your own health. Correct decisions and values can help avoid many serious problems later.

AIDS is a pandemic or global disease. There is growing evidence that HIV/ AIDS pandemic has reached the major areas of the world. The prevalence is increasing among persons with multiple sexual partners, such as among the commercial sex workers or prostitutes and men who have a male sex partner. This is also true to the intravenous (IV) drug users.

AIDS is deadly because there is no cure for it at present and there is no vaccine against it. It is accepted that one prevention strategy for AIDS is through education. Adolescence is the best time to learn about AIDS because of the secondary physical changes taking place. Adolescent tent to experiment with many types of behavior, some of which may be dangerous. It is hoped that education should fully inform you about HIV, AIDS, STD infection, transmission and prevention. This type of education should give you the opportunity to develop skills in making responsible decisions, particularly on your own sexual behavior. You have the right to say “no” to sex because you can get AIDS virus or HIV from even one sexual experience alone. Saying “no” now does not mean “no” forever. When you say “no”, you are postponing sex, and you are preparing to say “yes” later when you make a life-long decision in marriage.

The following are five ways that a person can get infected of AIDS:

• Having sex with someone who is infected with the AIDS virus.
• Sharing intravenous (IV) needles with someone who is infected with the virus.
• Receiving blood transfusion or blood products from someone who is infected with the AIDS virus.
• Using sperm from an infected donor for artificial insemination.
• Being born to a woman who is infected with the AIDS virus.

This means that you will not get AIDS/ HIV from a handshake, a hug , a cough or sneeze, sweat or tears, pets or eating food prepared or served by someone infected with the virus. Nor will you get it from using the toilet bowls and other facilities or swimming pools, food utensils, chairs or bus seats, drinking fountains or sport’s equipment.

The following signs and symptoms are present and common in other illnesses. However, in AIDS, they tend to be longer lasting or more severe. It is best to consult a qualified physician when any of these symptoms are felt:

• Unexplained and persistent fatigue
• Unexplained fever, chills, or night sweats for weeks
• Unexplained weight loss of more than ten pounds
• Swollen glands or enlarged lymph nodes for more than two weeks
• Persistent and unusual white spots in the mouth
• Persistent diarrhea
• Unusual bruises or bleeding

The person suffering from AIDS shows the following characteristics: pneumocystic carinii, which is an infection that produces pneumonia with shortness of breath, persistent dry cough, sharp chest pain and difficulty of breathing. Another problem is kaposis sarcoma, which is a form of skin cancer. It produces purple or brown lesions that do not heal. The lesions can occur on any part of the body, such as the nose, mouth or rectum. Meningitis can also occur.

Prevention is possible through information and education.  It should be designed to help young people like teens to modify behavior or to refrain from behavior that carries a risk to HIV infection. One should know how it spread and what virus can cause it.

One should attend counseling and similar social services in order to avoid the behavior that carries the risk of HIV transmission. One should understand, appreciate and practice the social norms and policies with respect to the rights and dignity of people infected with HIV and people with AIDS. In fact, the whole world is united against AIDS. There is a global mobilization to prevent AIDS in 140 countries, which are participating in and support in various programs to stop its spread. It is but best to remember that “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!”