HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) AND STIGMATISATION

Hi again great Steemians
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Human immunodeficiency virus has been tag one of those deadly infection that kills faster in the recent times after transforming to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) at its late stage.
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WHAT IS HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV)?

HUMAN: This is a virus that affects human beings.

IMMUNODEFICIENCY: This virus doesn’t affect another part of a person’s system rather than the Immune system. The immune system which is a natural body illness fighter, once the body is infected with HIV the immune system stops working properly.

VIRUS: This is a small germ that can transport and multiply themselves easily and faster to any part of the body causing damages to the body system but difficult to be seen even under a microscopic condition.

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS(HIV) can be best described as a disease that alters the body immune system making it deficient through some germs (known as Virus) spread and multiplied in the body making the infected person vulnerable to some other infections and diseases.

Therefore, HIV is that virus that transform to AIDS in its advance stage, HIV without treatment can cause AIDS to develop. However it is possible to be infected with HIV without AIDS if there’s proper treatments, medications and COUNSELLING for the infected person.
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HIV is a RETROVIRUS that affects vital organs and cells of the immune system. This virus is multiplied and increased in the absence of ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART).

ANTI-RETROVIRAL THERAPY is a therapy that lowers and prevent the growth and development of New HIV viruses.
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The rate at which this viruses grows varies from individual to individual depending on many factors.
This factors are:

Age of the infected person

The genetic inheritance of the infected person

The ability of the infected person’s body to defend against this virus

HOW HIV IS TRANSMITTED?

SEXUAL TRANSMISSION: having unprotected sex either Vaginal, Oral, Anal or sharing sex toys with an infected person.

PENNATAL TRANSMISSION: This is usually transferred from a mother to her baby either during birth, breastfeeding or pregnancy.

BLOOD TRANSMISSION: This is another way transmitting HIV where the blood of an infected person comes in contact with that of an HIV negative person i.e. the contacts of twoBROKEN SKIN
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SYMPTOMS OF HIV

Some persons have no symptoms for HIV for months and even years at times after being infected and some develop flu like symptom mostly 2-6weeks after being infected.

Some of this symptoms are:

Joint pains
Sore Throat
Weakness
Tiredness
Enlarge Glands
Muscle aches
Unintentional weight loss
Chills.
Malaise
Fatigue
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SYMPTOMLESS HIV

After the disappearance of this initial symptoms, there will not be any symptoms for years. During this times, this virus continue to, develop and damaging the victims immune system and body organs. Refusal to stop HIV replication through the necessary MEDICATIONS can make this process take up to ten years and the infected person feels well and healthy without any symptom and this person will be successful in spreading this infection since it’s a symptomless one that can cause the person go for an HIV test.

HIV left untreated weakens the infected person’s ability to fight against illness as done before being infected. The infected Patient starts suffering from different illness not far from each other. This stage is known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome).

The symptoms at this stage may include:

Night sweat
Diarrhea
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Blurred vision
Dry cough etc.

ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) TREATMENT

At the moment, there’s no cure for AIDS and/or HIV, proper medication can slow down the course of the infection and allow most infected victims the opportunity of living a longer and relatively healthy life.
The HIV anti-retroviral therapy is crucial as it improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV. No vaccines or cure has been provided for HIV but there are treatment which are more effective and better tolerated.
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HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) STIGMATISATION
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Considering the facts and myths about HIV/AIDS, there are many misconceptions which includes that HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through the following means which is not:

*Shaking hands
*Casual kissing
*Hugging
*Mouth to Mouth resuscitation
*Touching unbroken skin
*Sharing Cutleries
*Using same toilet.
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THE BELIEVES OF MANY PEOPLE ON HIV/AIDS

*When a person is infected with HIV and AIDS, that person has been sentenced to death.

*HIV is the result of some behaviors that some people disapprove (such as sex work, homosexuality, drug use or infidelity).

*HIV is only transmitted through sex, which is a taboo in some people’s cultures and practices most especially outside marriage.

*HIV infection is the consequences and result of personal irresponsibility or moral fault (such as infidelity) that deserves to be punished.

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Inaccurate INFORMATION and KNOWLEDGE about how HIV is transmitted is the real cause of STIGMATISATION and DISCRIMINATION

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The epidemic of stigmatization, fear and discrimination has undermine the ability of individuals, families and the society at large to protect themselves and provide reassurance and support to those affected with the infection. This stops, in no small way, efforts and energy put into stemming the epidemics and complicating the decision of testing, negotiation of prevention behaviors, disclosure of status and the use of family planning services.

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Stigma is a form of prejudice that discredits or rejects an individual or group because they are seen to be different from ourselves or from the mainstream. When people act on their prejudice, stigma turns into discrimination. HIV-related stigma arises mostly from fear and ignorance about the disease and/or hostility and existing prejudices about the groups most affected by it (e.g., gay men). HIV-related discrimination is the unfair treatment of people on the basis of their actual or suspected HIV status. Discrimination against people living with HIV also extends to those populations at risk of HIV (e.g., men who have sex with men and people who injection drugs).Source

The stigma associated with HIV can lead to isolation, which can affect the quality of life of people living with HIV. Stigma and discrimination can also make people who are at risk of HIV less willing to be tested and those with HIV less able to seek treatment, care and support. Blaming people living with or affected by HIV for their situation or abusing them forces the epidemic underground, creating the ideal conditions for HIV to spread.Source.

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#HIV STIGMA CAUSE INFECTED PEOPLE TO LOOSE THE FOLLOWING:

Marriage and childbearing options.
Income and livelihood.
Hope and feelings of worthlessness.
Good care within the health sector.
Caregiving to them in their homes.
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Reputation.
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MY STAND ON HIV/AIDS STIGMATISATION

People living with this infection are only HIV/AIDS positive and not carrying a death sentence. Going far away from them can fuel the engine of a short life span in their lives.

Show them love to help their health situation, they can live the way you live if you can treat them the way you treat a person that’s not infected, Do not let them feel they are out of this world while still alive.

Do not be the cause of their death, they might be infected with HIV/AIDS but STIGMATISATION and your Discrimination can kill them even when the Infection is positively responding to the MEDICATIONS. Not all HIV/AIDS positive persons got it from Immoralities, Homosexuality and Infidelity.
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All HIV/AIDS counsellors should please practice what they preach to people concerning this infection because most of this counsellors are the set of people that encourage STIGMATIZATION and DISCRIMINATION. HIV/AIDS positive patients needs you most to live a long and relatively healthy life.
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anikys3reasureCaresalot
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