HIV/Aids

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). 

It is a virus that has the capacity of attacking and destroying the human immune system. The human immune system is responsible for providing protection against germs and other diseases which cause sickness. When HIV stays in the human body system for some time, the number of healthy immune cells(CD4 cells) begins to reduce and this will cause various infections.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) 

This is the chronic stage of the infection HIV and this occurs when many human healthy cells (CD4) in the body continue to decline and get to a certain amount whereby the CD4 cells cannot fight back. It takes a prolonged time for AIDS to come into place between (10 – 12) years if HIV is diagnosed early or could be less.

Differences between HIV and AIDS

HIV	AIDS
HIV is a virus or infection	AIDS is a condition
Someone with HIV doesn’t have to have AIDS	Someone with AIDS has to have the HIV
HIV has no cure. The infection never goes away even if the patient never develops AIDS	AIDS is a chronic stage of an unmanaged HIV
A person could become HIV positive, but never develop symptoms	AIDS is a result of the various symptoms of HIV
Many people live for many years with HIV without ever developing AIDS	Once HIV becomes AIDs, it is just a matter of a short time, before the person will die
Like other viruses, HIV can be transmitted from person to person	AIDS, on the other hand, is a syndrome that is acquired only after a person gets infected with HIV
The body of the victim may look very healthy	The body of the victim will show many deficiencies

Causes drivers and modes of transmitting HIV/AIDS

•  Blood transfusion
• Unprotected sex
• Breast milk from mother to child
•  Sharing contaminated sharp instrument
• Occupational hazards during the treatment of HIV/AIDS
•  Open sore contact with the fluid of an infected person
• Using unsterilized equipment such as blades, clippers, needles, syringes
• Vaginal and Rectal fluids

Signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS

• Fever
• Swollen glands
• General body aches and pains
• Cough
•  Skin Rashes
•  Loss of Appetite and weight for a long period
•  Loss of memory
• Loss of hair
• Fatigue/Persistent severe tiredness
• Vomiting
• Dizziness and fainting
• Persistent diarrhea
• Infections – Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Weight loss
• Skin rashes
• Sore Throat
• Headaches
• Dry Cough
•  Easily prone to diseases such as pneumonia
• Night Sweat
• Menstrual Irregularities

Effects of HIV/AIDS

•  Damages the immune system: The body immune system of the victim is completely damaged, paving the way for numerous diseases to enter. Thus the body cannot fight against infections because the body soldiers have been destroyed.
•     Draining financial resources/Increase in the medical bill: It may drain the financial resources of the infected person because a huge amount of money is spent on treatment.
• Loss of appetite: It may lead to loss of appetite and affect the metabolic system of the body.
• Poor parental care
• Increase in the dependency ratio
•  Reduction in productivity/manpower
• A high rate of school dropouts
•  Increase in social vices
• Depression/emotional instability
• Increase in the number of orphans and vulnerable children
• Increase in the level of poverty
• Loss of livelihood due to the inability to work
• Loss of lives/Untimely Death- AIDS results in the untimely death of the victim.
• It leads to broken homes/family
• It leads to psychological problems
• Stigmatization- It may lead to stigmatization of the person living with HIV/AIDS which may affect their social and emotional status.

Preventive measures of HIV/AIDS

•    The distribution of sterilized objects such as needles, syringes, and other equipment to hospitals.
• Destruction of used needles, syringes, and other equipment.
• Screening of blood before transfusion.

    Avoiding contact with an infected body fluid such as blood.

    Avoiding unprotected or indiscriminate sexual contact or relationship.

    Encouraging protective sex through the use of a condom. Always use a condom if you must have a casual sex relationship, though it is not 100% safe.

    Establishment and operation of drug treatment facilities.

    Establishment of drug substitution therapy programs.

    Referral for drug treatment/ Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) and rehabilitation.

    Promotion of Voluntary Counseling Testing (VCT) knowing one’s HIV/AIDS status.

    Avoid sharing of any piercing and sharp cutting objects with other people eg, razor blade, knives, needles, syringes, clippers, etc.

    Carefully screen blood donated by people before transfusion.

    Maintain a personal discipline or self-control in order to uphold moral integrity.

    Promotion of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) education/teaching of sex/HIV/AIDS education in schools.

    Creating awareness about other means of transmitting HIV/AIDS.

    Educating the people so as to be aware of the dangers of contracting the disease.

    Treatment of opportunistic infections eg STI.

    Encouraging medical personnel managing HIV/AIDS patients to ensure adequate protection during treatment.

    Wearing of hand gloves either rubber of nylon during or when one has to deal with HIV/AIDS infected person.

    Establishment of mobile outreach centres for the Most at Risk Population/vulnerable people.

    Pregnant women should be tested for HIV/AIDS and treated if necessary to avoid mother to child transmission.

    Provision of job opportunities for the people by the government so that they can shy away from illicit and immoral activities.

    Constant and periodic test by individuals and married couples

    Encouraging abstinence from sex by unmarried people

    Encouraging faithfulness to one’s spouse/partner.

Ways to manage HIV/AIDS

    Taking the recommended Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) drugs as at when due.

    Eating a balanced diet.

    Staying positive about survival.

    Engaging in productive exercises.

    Discouraging stigmatization of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAS).

    Subsidizing the cost of treatment of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAS).

    Early discovery of one’s HIV status.

    Going for regular medical counseling.

    Giving employment to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAS).

    Creating awareness on the management of HIV/AIDS through the mass media.

    The teaching of sex/HIV/AIDS education in schools.

How to care for people with HIV/AIDS

    Showing love, respect, and support

    Knowing the facts about HIV/AIDS and talking openly about the disease

    Helping to reduce stress and stressful situations

    Helping to provide balanced and nutritious meals

    Encouraging them to get treatment if they are sick.  Most infections are easily treated and cured, even if a person is HIV positive

Stigmatization of PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS)

Stigmatization and discrimination against PLWHA have been one of the hallmarks of the global HIV/AIDs pandemic. Stigma may be defined as any attribute that is deeply discrediting and results in the reduction of a person or group “from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one”. In order words, it is the assignment of negative perceptions of or discrimination against people living with HIV due to the perceived threat of the disease.  Stigmatization could lead to delays and failures in seeking treatment by PLWHA and delays in the diagnosis of high-risk patients. It could also lead to a denial of rights to health, education, and employment.