November 1st saw people around the world join forces to show their support for those living with the AIDS virus, as well as those who have died from the disease. This was the 26th World AIDS Day.
HIV/AIDS
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body’s ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breast-feeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point that you have AIDS.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but there are medications that can dramatically slow disease progression. These drugs have reduced AIDS deaths in many developed nations.
Knowing one HIV status is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS and this is being encouraged in Anguilla.
An estimated 34 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and more than 35 million have died from the disease.
This year’s theme is “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation.”
Ahead of World AIDS Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) urged more investment and access to treatment for children. The group said that 1.1 million infections among children under 15 have been averted, but that more needs to be done.
UNICEF said that while all other age groups have experienced a decline of nearly 40% in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 and 2013, those ages 10-19 are the only group in which AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing.
“We must close the gap, and invest more in reaching every mother, every newborn, every child and every adolescent with HIV prevention and treatment programs that can save and improve their lives,” UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, said.
HIV/AIDS PREVENTION
There is no vaccine to prevent HIV infection and no cure for AIDS at this time. It is possible to protect yourself and others from infection. That means educating yourself about HIV and avoiding any behaviour that allows HIV-infected fluids — blood, semen, and vaginal secretions — into your body.
The following have been shown to help prevent the spread of HIV:
• Use a new condom every time you have sex. If you do not know the HIV status of your partner, use a new condom every time you have anal or vaginal sex. Women can use a female condom. Use only water-based lubricants. Oil-based lubricants can weaken condoms and cause them to break.
• Tell your sexual partners if you have HIV. It is important to tell anyone with whom you have had sex that you are HIV-positive. Your partners need to be tested and to receive medical care if they have the virus. They also need to know their HIV status so that they do not infect others.
• If you are pregnant, get medical care right away. If you are HIV-positive, you may pass the infection to your baby. But if you receive treatment during pregnancy, you can cut your baby’s risk by as much as two-thirds.
• Monogamous relations. Individuals who are sexually active are encouraged to remain faithful at all times and be only in monogamous relationships at a time.
Conclusion
HIV/AIDS continues to affect many individuals in many countries including Anguilla. The emotional, social and financial consequences of HIV/AIDS can make coping with this illness extremely difficult. We must continue to educate the population on ways to prevent this disease and also help those who are have the disease.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
