HEALTH

ALL ABOUT HIV AND AIDS IN BRIEF 

Introduction

HIV/AIDS is today one of the greatest challenges to medicine and mankind. The destructive effect have manifested in all departments of human endeavour, health, economy, security, culture, family, etc. Also it has crossed all human boundaries affecting people from all walks of life, men, women, boys, girls, rich, poor, illiterate, educated, workers, farmers, fishermen, urban and rural people and even children.

Although, AIDS was discovered in USA in 1981, it was not until 1986 that the first case was reported in Nigeria. Today AIDS infects over 5,000 people everyday (Source: WHO AIDS: Images of the epidemic)

Ironically, in Nigeria today so many still wrongly believe that AIDS is not present in Nigeria or does not even exist. Such people go about exposing their bodies through various means thereby making themselves highly vulnerable to the disease.

Since no vaccine or cure has yet been found for the HIV/AIDS disease, prevention and control of the disease, which can be achieved through effective information, education and communication (IEC) programme have been adopted. Hence the publication of this article. Also note that 1^st of December every year has been set aside by World Health Organization (WHO) as WORLD AIDS DAY.

What is HIV?

HIV means

H      -       Human

I       -       Immune-Deficiency

V      -       Virus.

It is a very small germ, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. It affects the body’s immune (protective) system, thereby making the body weak and less able to fight off diseases and infections. People infected with HIV can develop many health problems. These can include extreme weight loss, severe pneumonia, severe diarrhea lasting for more than one month, prolonged fever lasting for more than one month and tuberculosis.

What is AIDS?

AIDS means

A      -       Acquired i.e. a person becomes infected or it is acquired

I       -       Immune – the person’s immune system is weakened

D      -       Deficiency

S      -       Syndrome – the disease presents a variety of symptoms

Why the concern about HIV/AIDS?

v  
  To provide the people with sufficient basic information about HIV/AIDS to guide his or her actions and interactions.

v  
   To sensitize the people to their roles and responsibilities in the struggle to nip HIV/AIDS in the bud.

v  
    Rising prevalence among blood donors.

v   
    Rising prevalence among young prospective couples.

Why is HIV/AIDS so deadly?

The dreaded HIV/AIDS is deadly because it has so far defied all known theories of laboratory scientists and medicine both orthodox and unorthodox – since its discovery in 1981 in USA.

Consequently, it has the tendency of wiping out a generation of a family, community or even mankind if the trend remains unchecked.

When a person gets infected with the virus, the virus subdues the white blood cells after a long struggle, the white blood cell becomes weak and the person fully develops AIDS and eventually dies.

How to know if someone is infected with HIV/AIDS

From the time a person is infected, he or she may feel healthy and infect others without knowing it, even if no symptoms are present. However, a person may know if someone has HIV/AIDS when a suspicious victim has at least two major signs and one minor sign of the illness below.

Major Signs

v 
   Diarrhea for over one month (on and off all the time)

v Persistent severe fatigue and very dry and pale face

v Fever for over one month

v More than 10% weight loss (the person eats but still grows thin)

Minor Signs

v Cough for more than one month

v Itchy skin rashes

v Cold sores all over the body

v Thrush (white spots) in the mouth and throat

v Swelling in the neck and armpit

How to avoid HIV/AIDS infection

v Avoid having sex before marriage (abstinence) and remain faithful to your marriage partner when married.

v If however, you are already having intercourse, be a faithful sexual partner and stick to only one person.

v Women with HIV/AIDS should avoid getting pregnant to avoid passing the virus to their unborn babies.

v Always insist on having clippers or other sharp instruments properly sterilized before they are used on you.

v Avoid the need fro emergency blood transfusion, e.g. during road accidents.

v Do not have sex with people of high-risk behaviours such as prostitutes, homosexuals, long distance travelers or even a partner suspected to be a flirt. Do not share sharp instruments such as razor blades, manicure sets, tooth brushes, chewing sticks, etc.

v Use a condom or diaphragm properly each and every time you have sex. Do not be shy – the condom can save your life.

v Follow religious, cultural and social traditions that favour postponing sexual intercourse until marriage after knowing your HIV/AIDS status.

HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through the following ways:

      Sexual intercourse

v    Blood transfusion

v   Scarification with blades

v   Manicure and pedicure

v   Circumcision

v   Injection with contaminated needle or syringes

…. to be continued