HIV AIDS and Consequences of Not Paying Attention to Safety Tips

By Ikenna ONUOHA, Mnipr

HIV/AIDS is a threat to social and economic development. Treatment of HIV/AIDS patients must be accompanied with other social measures to enhance their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. HIV/AIDS can lead to poverty, affecting particularly women and young people.

It is remarkable to note that HIV epidemic not only affects the health of individuals, it also impacts households, communities, and the development and economic growth of nations. Many of the countries hardest hit by HIV also suffer from other infectious diseases, food insecurity, and other serious problems.

Apart from the skeletal impacts of HIV epidemic, the symptom weeakens family and societal support systems, decreases participation in formal education of young people as a result of AIDS in the family, along with depleted family income due to loss of work, and poor disease management and present additional vulnerabilities. The growing number of HIV-infected women; many married or in single-partner relationship – highlights the importance of specific programs to empower the women.

Effective prevention and care in enabling environments can only help the HIV/AIDS patients to overcome the devastating outcomes of the disease. By an appropriate response to support those affected by HIV/AIDS, everyone gains and no one loses.

Families’ gain as the income from work will continue, children gain as they continue to receive support from their family. In this way people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) remain productive for longer. The state gains because production is not disrupted in key sectors.

About 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, and more than 38,000 new infections happen every year. Most people with HIV don’t have any symptoms for many years and feel totally fine, so they might not even know they have it.

Once an individual contracts HIV, the virus stays in the body for life. There’s no cure for HIV, but medicines can help the patient to stay healthy. HIV medicine lowers or even stops the chances of spreading the virus to other people. Studies show that using HIV treatment as directed can lower the amount of HIV in the blood of the carrier so much that it might not even show up on a test — when this happens, the patient cannot transmit HIV through sex.

Treatment is really important (that’s why getting tested is so important). Without treatment, HIV can lead to AIDS. But with medicine, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives and stop the spread of HIV to others.

Individuals living with the symptom may be wondering the difference between HIV and AIDS? In a simplest term; HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. HIV and AIDS are not the same thing. And people with HIV do not always have AIDS.

HIV is the virus that is passed from person to person. Over time, HIV destroys an important kind of the cell in the immune system (called CD4 cells or T cells) that helps protect the patient from infections. When a patient don’t have enough of these CD4 cells, the body can’t fight off infections the way it normally can.

AIDS is the disease caused by the damage that HIV does to your immune system. You have AIDS when you get dangerous infections or have a super low number of CD4 cells. AIDS is the most serious stage of HIV, and it leads to death over time.

HIV is usually spread through having unprotected sex. Using condoms and/or dental dams every time individuas have sex and not sharing needles can help protect the carrier and their partners from HIV. If one has HIV, treatment can lower or even stop the chances of spreading the virus to other people during sex. If  patient don’t have HIV, there is also a daily medicine called PrEP that can protect such person (s) from HIV.

HIV can also be passed to babies during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. A pregnant person with HIV can take medicine to greatly reduce the chances that their baby will get HIV.

The disease is not spread through saliva (spit); what this means something s that individuals may not contact HIV from kissing, sharing food or drinks, or using the same fork or spoon. HIV is also not spread through hugging, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing. It is also important to note that HIV cannot be contacted from a toilet seat.

A long time ago, some people got HIV from infected blood transfusions. But now, giving or getting blood in medical centers is totally safe. Doctors, hospitals, and blood donation centers don’t use needles more than once, and donated blood is tested for HIV and other infections.

Talking openly about HIV can help normalize the subject. It also provides opportunities to correct misconceptions and help others learn more about HIV. But be mindful of how one talks about HIV and people living with HIV. In the cause of proffering solution to HIV symptoms, together stigma language guide can help.

By so doing, we shall be expecting a HIV free society for the good of all inhabitants!

*ONUOHA, a Nigerian Journalist and Public Relations Practitioner writes from Owerri, the Imo State Capital.