Transcript HIV/AIDS Education

HIV/AIDS Education
Facts About HIV and AIDS
Common Ground USA
Objectives
 Each participant will complete a quiz to
distinguish between facts and
misinformation about HIV and AIDS.
 Lecturer will facilitate a discussion of the
scientific, medical and social issues relative
to HIV/AIDS.
Introduction
 The global epidemic of HIV/AIDS is rapidly
becoming the worst infectious-disease catastrophe
in recorded history, surpassing the Bubonic Plague
of the 14th century and the influenza epidemic of
1917, each of which killed 20 million people.
 Greater than 20 million people have already died
because of AIDS, according to UNAIDS, which
coordinates the United Nation’s response to the
epidemic.
What is HIV?
 The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a
virus that attacks and deteriorates the body’s
immune system. The immune system is the
body’s natural defense against infections
such as the common cold. HIV is the virus
that causes AIDS.
What is AIDS?
 AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
 By name, we can understand a lot about the disease. It is
Acquired, meaning that it must be transmitted from an
outside source.
 It affects the Immune system, and cause a Deficiency. This
means that it causes the body’s natural defense to be worn
down.
 It is a syndrome which simply means that it is a general
name for a number of common symptoms. AIDS is not a
virus in itself. It is simply a name for the later stages of
HIV.
Why do people infected with
HIV eventually die?
 When people are infected with HIV, they do
not die of HIV or AIDS. These people die
due to the effects that the HIV has on the
body. With the immune system down, the
body becomes susceptible to many
infections, from the common cold to
cancer.It is actually those particular
infections and the body’s inability to fight
the infections that cause these people to
become so sick, that they eventually die.
How do you become infected
with HIV?
 By having sexual intercourse with an infected partner.This includes
ORAL, ANAL, and VAGINAL. It makes no difference if the person is
gay, straight or bisexual. It makes no difference if it is a guy or girl, or
what age the person is. In fact the fastest growing segment of our
population that is becoming infected with HIV are heterosexuals
(straight), and between the ages of 18 and24.
 By injecting drugs using a needle or syringe which has already been
used by someone who is infected.
 HIV can be passed on in both ways because the virus is present in the
sexual fluids and blood of infected people. If infected blood or sexual
fluid gets into your blood, then you will become infected.
 HIV can be found in primarily four bodily fluids. If you can remember
the four bodily fluids, you can remember how HIV is transmitted. HIV
can be present in blood, vaginal fluids, semen, and breast milk.
Transmission Continued
 Blood transfusions-Some people have been infected
through transfusion of infected people. But in most
countries all blood used for transfusions is tested for
HIV.In these countries HIV infection via a blood
transfusion is now extremely rare.
 An infected pregnant woman can pass the virus on to her
unborn baby either before or during birth. Approximately
30% of children born to HIV infected mothers get HIVprimarily through the birthing process. HIV can also be
passed on during breastfeeding and therefore mothers
should not breast feed their children.
 Sixty-one percent of 14-21 year olds are engaged
intercourse. The problem we are faced with is the spread of
this disease among this generation.
Transmission Clarification
 HIV cannot be transmitted through hugging,
kissing, holding hands or sharing food or a
drink with someone who is infected.
 There is a very low concentration of the
virus in tears and saliva.It would take two
gallons of saliva at once for anyone to be
infected with HIV.
 There are no known cases of transmission
through mosquitoes or any other animals.
Treatment
 Scientists are trying to develop a cure for
AIDS. There are three parts to finding the
cure. They are:
– To devise a drug that will kill HIV once it
enters the body.
– To create a vaccine that would prevent the
disease.
– To educate people world wide about the
dangers of AIDS and how to prevent infection.
Prevention
 There are a few simple ways to protect
yourself and others against HIV.
 They include abstinence, using a male or
female condom, and never sharing a needle
when injecting drugs.
How AIDS destroys Globalization.
 AIDS is destroying the twin rationales of globalization
strategy:cheap labor and fast growing markets.
 AIDS has a devastating impact on developing economies,
because, unlike other diseases that primarily affect young
children and old people, it kills young and middle-aged
adults in their most productive years as employees and
customers.
 The epidemic is reducing the demands for goods and
services in developing markets.
 Attention must be brought to North America as well as
instituting organizational wide prevention programs.