1. What is HIV and AIDS
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system making it harder for the body to fight off infections and diseases and can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) if left untreated, the most advanced stage of HIV infection which is a condition that causes severe damage to the organs and increases the risk of death from opportunistic infections. HIV has claimed more than 40 million lives so far and continues to spread in all countries globally. There is no cure for HIV, but with effective treatment and care, people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives and protect their partners.
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| HIV, the AIDS virus (yellow), infecting a human cell. Image Credit to National Cancer Institute |
Thanks to advances in medical science and technology, HIV is no longer a death sentence for most people who have it. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and care, people living with HIV can have a normal life expectancy and quality of life.
However, this does not mean that we can ignore or downplay the seriousness of HIV. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 38.4 million people living with HIV globally in 2021, and 650,000 people died from HIV-related illnesses. HIV remains a major public health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries where access to testing, treatment, and prevention services is limited.
2. How is HIV transmitted
HIV is transmitted through contact with the blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of a person with HIV. The most common ways of getting HIV are through unprotected sex and sharing needles or syringes with someone who has HIV. HIV can also be passed from a mother to her child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
3. Symptoms of HIV
The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. Some people may have flu-like symptoms soon after getting infected, while others may have no symptoms at all for many years. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested regularly. Testing is easy, confidential, and available in many places.
4. What is ART/ARVs
The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy (ART) or antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). ART/ARV involves taking a combination of HIV medicines every day for life. These medicines prevent HIV from multiplying in the body and reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (called viral load). One of the main goals of ART/ARVs is to achieve an undetectable viral load. This means that the level of HIV in the blood is so low that it cannot be detected by a standard test. By lowering the viral load, ART/ARVs help the immune system recover and protect itself from infections and cancers. Moreover, having a low viral load also reduces the risk of passing HIV to others.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) or Antiretroviral Drugs (ARVs) is a combination of drugs that can suppress the virus and prevent it from damaging the immune system. ART/ARVs also reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others. And that's true! But that doesn't mean we can ignore it or pretend it doesn't exist. HIV is still a serious condition that requires care and attention. And more importantly, it requires compassion and understanding from all of us.
However, having an undetectable viral load does not mean that a person is cured of HIV. There is still some HIV in the body, and it can come back if a person stops taking ART/ARVs or misses doses. Therefore, it is important to take ART/ARVs every day as prescribed and to have regular check-ups with a healthcare provider.
5. Side effects of taking ART/ARVs
Taking ART/ARVs can also have some challenges and side effects. Some people may experience nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, or rash when they start taking ART/ARVs or switch to a new regimen. These side effects usually go away after a few weeks or months, but they can be bothersome and affect a person's quality of life.
Some people may also have difficulty adhering to their ART/ARVs regimen. This can be due to various factors, such as forgetting doses, running out of pills, having trouble swallowing pills, being sick or depressed, using drugs or alcohol, or facing stigma or discrimination. Missing doses of ART/ARVs can make the viral load go up and increase the risk of developing drug resistance. Drug resistance means that some HIV medicines stop working against the virus.
6. If test positive for HIV
If you test positive for HIV, you can start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment involves taking antiretroviral therapy (ART)/antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), a combination of medicines that stop the virus from multiplying in your body. ART/ARVs can reduce your viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) to undetectable levels, which means you cannot transmit HIV to others through sex. ART can also prevent or treat opportunistic infections and cancers that can occur when your immune system is weakened by HIV.
7. If tested negative for HIV
If you test negative for HIV, you can take steps to prevent getting infected. Prevention methods include using condoms correctly and consistently, choosing less risky sexual behaviors, limiting your number of sexual partners, getting tested and treated for other sexually transmitted infections, and taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you are at high risk of exposure.
However, treatment is not a cure. People living with HIV still face many challenges, such as stigma, discrimination, and mental health issues. They also need to adhere to their treatment regimen, monitor their health regularly, and prevent other infections that can complicate their condition. Moreover, some people may experience side effects from ART/ARVs or develop resistance to them over time.
8. Challenges and barriers
There are many challenges and barriers that prevent people from accessing testing, treatment, and prevention services for HIV. Some of these include stigma and discrimination, lack of awareness and education, poverty and inequality, gender-based violence, and human rights violations. These factors make some people more vulnerable to HIV infection and less likely to seek help and support.
Moreover, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV still persist in many parts of the world. This can lead to social isolation, mental health problems, violence, and human rights violations. Stigma and discrimination also create barriers to accessing health care and support services, which can worsen health outcomes and increase the risk of transmission.
You see, HIV is not just a virus that infects your body. It's also a stigma that affects your mind and your soul. People living with HIV face discrimination, rejection, and isolation from society. They are often judged, blamed, and shamed for something they didn't choose or deserve. They are treated as less than human, as unworthy of love and respect. And that's not funny at all.
That's why I think it's crucial to keep raising awareness and educating ourselves and others about HIV. We need to break the silence and the myths that surround this virus. We need to support each other and fight for our rights and dignity. We need to prevent new infections and ensure that everyone who needs treatment gets it. We need to remember that HIV is not just a medical condition, but a social and human one.
That's why we need to address HIV seriously, not only as a medical issue but also as a social and human rights issue. We need to educate ourselves and others about the facts and myths of HIV. We need to support and empower people living with HIV to live their lives with dignity and hope. We need to fight against the ignorance and prejudice that fuel the spread of HIV. And we need to do it with humor and kindness because laughter is the best medicine.
So, how can we do that? Well, for starters, we can use our words wisely. Words have power, and they can hurt or heal. Instead of using derogatory or insensitive terms like "AIDS victim" or "HIV positive", we can use respectful and empowering terms like "person living with HIV" or "HIV status". Instead of making jokes or comments that mock or belittle people living with HIV, we can make jokes or comments that celebrate or uplift them. Instead of spreading rumors or misinformation about HIV, we can spread facts and awareness about HIV.
We need to raise awareness and fight against the myths and stereotypes that surround this virus. We need to promote safe sex practices and encourage people to get tested regularly and know their status. We need to support people who are living with HIV and respect their dignity and rights. We need to advocate for more funding and research to find better treatments and ultimately a cure for HIV.
And last but not least, we can address HIV seriously by being ourselves. Being ourselves means being authentic and honest about who we are and what we feel. Being ourselves means being brave and proud of our identity and our choices. Being ourselves means being compassionate and empathetic towards others and their struggles. Being ourselves means being human.
Because at the end of the day, that's what we all are: human beings who share this planet and this life. Human beings have hopes and dreams, fears and doubts, joys and sorrows. Human beings who have HIV or not.
Therefore, it is essential to have good communication and support from healthcare providers, family members, friends, and other people living with HIV. They can help a person cope with the challenges of living with HIV and taking ART/ARVs. They can also provide information, advice, encouragement, and emotional support.
So, let's be human together. Let's talk about HIV seriously but with a smile on our faces. Let's laugh at ourselves, but not at others. Let's love ourselves, but not forget others.
We all have a role to play in ending the HIV epidemic. Together, we can make a difference.
9. Key Points
- HIV is no longer a death sentence.
- The treatment makes a huge difference.
- HIV still affects millions.
- Prevention is key.
- Awareness is critical.
- The stigma around HIV still exists.
- Everyone can help by learning more.
- HIV is a global concern.
- Testing is important for everyone.
- Let's keep fighting this epidemic together.