HIV: Why should we care?
What is HIV?
The virus reproduces itself, taking over the machinery of the human cell, specifically the CD4 cell, which helps us fight against various infections.
HIV attacks CD4 cell, multiply inside and gradually kills them. Once CD4 are destroyed, our body’s resistance to fight infections goes down and a person suffers from lots of infections.
The end stage of HIV infection is called Aids. It takes many years for Aids to develop and until that time, the HIV infected person usually remains healthy.
Where did HIV come from?
The most likely theory is it’s a “crossed over’ into the human population from a particular species of Chimpanzee, probably through blood contact that occurred during hunting and field dressing of the animal. However, this isn’t scientifically proven yet.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or Aids means the virus has almost destroyed the immune system of a person, and it occurs in about (average) eight years from HIV infection.
Aids is acquired or transmitted from person to person; it affects the body's immune system and makes it work improperly. Someone with Aids may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections.
There are four body fluids that are known to transmit HIV:
Blood
Semen
Vaginal/Cervical Fluid
Breastmilk
HIV Transmission Risk 1: Sexual Transmission. (Heterosexual) Recipient has the higher chance to get the infection, rather than the inserter. (Men having sex with men) Between top and bottom, the latter has the higher chance to get the infection. Oral, anal (to avoid pregnancy, losing virginity) have higher risk and possibility of laceration compared to vaginal sex.
HIV Transmission Risk 3: From HIV-infected mother to child; during pregnancy, natural delivery, and breastfeeding. Mother to child (not every positive mother could have her child HIV positive too); 3 of 10 babies from an HIV infected mother can have the chance to get the infection.
1. Casual contacts (sharing food and utensils, shaking hands, hugging or kissing, coughing, sneezing, using public phone, visiting a hospital)
2. Feces, urine, saliva, sweat, tears
3. Donating blood
4. Sharing toilets
5. Insect bites
6. Swimming pools
How does a person with HIV look like?
You can’t tell if a person has HIV by merely looking at him/her.
How do you know if a person is HIV positive?
You will know through an HIV counseling and testing. If you or your partner have or in the past suffered from symptoms of STI; have multiple sexual partners; or have history of injecting drug, you should consider having yourself tested.
What if you test HIV-positive?
There is a treatment but there isn’t a cure. Anti-retrovirals (ARV) are available for free in Department of Health-designated treatment hubs.
Myths of HIV
Myth 1. I can get HIV by casual contact like kissing, hugging, sharing utensils from people who are HIV positive.
Myth 2. I'm HIV positive, my life is over
Myth 3. I don't need to worry about becoming HIV positive, new drugs will keep me well
Myth 4. I'm straight and don't use intravenous drugs, I won’t become HIV-positive.
Myth 5. HIV positive individuals cannot have a child
Myth 6. My partner and I are both HIV positive – there’s no reason for us to practice safer sex.
Myth 7. I always donate blood so I don’t need to get tested. They test my blood during donation.
The A-B-C-D-E of HIV/Aids Prevention
A - Abstinence
B - Be faithful (having a mutual monogamous relationship)
C - Careful Sex (No exchange of body fluids)
D - Don’t share needles/ sterilized needles
E - Education and Information
What the Department of Health is doing?
1. Advocating for increased budget/allocation for HIV and AIDS prevention control;
2. Encouraging local government units to give priority to HIV and Aids; Enrolling PLHIV in PhilHealth;
3. Advocating to development partners to allocate funds for HIV; Coordinating with private sectors for possible partnerships;
4. Encouraging workplace prevention efforts
See related materials on HIV/Aids
For online counseling and questions about HIV, you can e-mail takethetestmanila@gmail.com