Ten fundamental Facts about AIDS

[Guest guest]

UNICEF, in collaboration with other UNAIDS partners, has identified at least ten

fundamental facts that young people have the right to know:

1. AIDS is caused by HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, which damages the

body's defence system. People who have AIDS become weaker because their bodies

lose the ability to fight all illnesses. They eventually die. There is no cure

for HIV/AIDS.

2. The onset of AIDS can take up to ten years from the time of infection with

the HIV virus. Therefore a person infected with HIV may look and feel healthy

for many years, but he or she can transmit the virus to someone else. New drug

therapies can help a person stay healthier for longer periods of time, but the

person will still have HIV and be able to transmit HIV.

3. HIV is transmitted through the exchange of any HIV-infected bodily fluids.

Transfer may occur during all stages of the infection/disease. The HIV virus is

found in the following fluids: blood, semen (and pre-ejaculated fluid), vaginal

secretions, breast milk.

4. HIV is most frequently transmitted sexually. That is because fluids mix and

the virus can be exchanged, especially where there are tears in vaginal or anal

tissue, wounds or other sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). Girls are

especially vulnerable to HIV infection because their vaginal membranes are

thinner and more susceptible to infection than those of mature women.

5. People who have STIs are at greater risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS and

of transmitting their infection to others. People with STIs should seek prompt

treatment and avoid sexual intercourse or practice safer sex (non-penetrative

sex or sex using a condom), and inform their partners.

6. The risk of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS can be reduced if people don't

have sex, if uninfected partners have sex only with each other or if people have

safer sex -- sex without penetration or using a condom. The only way to be

completely sure to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV is by abstaining from

all sexual contact.

7. HIV can also be transmitted when the skin is cut or pierced using an

unsterilized needle, syringe, razorblade, knife or any other tool. People who

inject themselves with drugs or have sex with drug users are at high risk of

becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. Moreover, drug use alters people's judgement

and can lead to risky sexual behaviour, such as not using condoms.

8. Anyone who suspects that he or she might have been infected with HIV should

contact a health worker or an HIV/AIDS centre in order to receive confidential

counselling and testing.

9. HIV is not transmitted by: hugging, shaking hands; casual, everyday contact;

using swimming pools, toilet seats; sharing bed linen, eating utensils, food;

mosquito and other insect bites; coughing, sneezing.

10. Discriminating against people who are infected with HIV/AIDS or anyone

thought to be at risk of infection violates individual human rights and

endangers public health. Everyone infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS

deserves compassion and support.

" While young people are among those most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we

all know they are also the key to beating it. The behaviours they learn and

practice will dictate the future course of HIV/AIDS around the world, " said Mark

Stirling, UNICEF's Principal Advisor on HIV/AIDS. " In the fight against HIV,

information is, quite simply, power. We have the information. We must make sure

they get it. "

Veliath

E-mail:aveliath@...