HIV AIDS,

Sexually Transmitted Diseases - are transmitted through sexual contact. STD -are generally divided into two categories, bacterial and viral. Bacterial infections are relatively easy to cure if detected early. Viral infections are technically incurable but the symptoms are controllable if detected early. Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person's risk of becoming infected with HIV. STD treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection.

The human immunodeficiency virus HIV, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are one of the main concerns today. The patients affected by them are large in number and alarming as it is infectious. Anybody anywhere can get the virus, from one person to the other, from a mother to a baby. It is estimated by the Joint United Nations Program that there are over 34 million people worldwide affected with HIV/AIDS. Out of them only few are aware of their being infected and spreading the virus.

To begin with HIV - the human immunodeficiency virus - is a virus that kills your body slowly and slowly. HIV attacks human cells and uses nutrients and energy provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. HIV can be passed from one person to the other. If someone with HIV infection has sex or shares drug injection needles with another person then he or she is likely to be HIV positive. It also can be passed from a mother to her baby when she is pregnant, when she delivers the baby, or if she breast-feeds her baby.

It is very important to keep yourself away from the virus getting into your body and it is equally important not to let others get infected by it. There are different ways of getting infected by HIV as

O If you have unprotected Sex with someone who has HIV. The virus can be in an infected person's blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. It can also enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth.

O If you share a needle and syringe to inject drugs or share drug equipment used to prepare drugs for injection with someone who has HIV.

O If you had a blood transfusion or blood clotting factor that you got before 1985. As all blood in the United States have been tested for HIV since 1985.

How can you protect yourself from HIV?

o Make a mature move, both the partners should not hesitate to go for HIV test

o If you are pregnant then have an HIV test.

o Make sure to use condoms.

AIDS - the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - is a disease you get when HIV destroys your body's immune system. Normally, your immune system helps you fight off illness. When your immune system fails you can become very sick and can die.

An HIV-infected person receives a diagnosis of AIDS after developing one of the defined AIDS indicator illnesses, (opportunistic infection). A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical criteria. There is no cure for AIDS. There are anti drugs now available that can slow down the virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. These drugs have also helped reduce the overall rates of opportunistic infections in people with AIDS.

IV and AIDS are the biggest health threats mankind has ever faced.

That is according to the World Health Organisation, which describes the global HIV epidemic as "the fastest growing threat to human development today."

You wouldn't think so if you're one of the lucky ones living in a wealthy developed nation. The developed world has been lulled into a false sense of security over HIV and AIDS.After all, it's the gay plague isn't it? And the occasional snippet of news coverage tells us it's a bit of a problem in Africa. Nothing too much for middle class, heterosexual whites to worry about.

The stark truth is that there's a lot to worry about. And everyone needs to start worrying - not just gays and Africans.

Global complacency over the HIV crisis is allowing whole nations to be decimated. And it's this very same complacency which is allowing the killer virus to snare a whole new generation of youngsters in developed countries such as the UK and USA - youngsters who never saw those infamous and unforgettable tombstone adverts of the 1980s.

Facts about HIV/AIDS

Joe Public in the developed world thinks we've cracked the AIDS problem. New drug treatments enable people infected with HIV to live relatively normal and productive lives and these treatments have reduced the number of AIDS cases quite dramatically. So what is there to worry about? Here's just a few things:

1. HIV infection is now rising dramatically among young heterosexuals in many northern European countries and in the USA

2. According to UNICEF six people aged between 15 and 24 become infected every minute of every day

3. The ease of global travel in recent years means the huge epidemics sweeping Third World nations inevitably affect developed countries. No single area of the global community is safe as long of millions of people continue to become infected with HIV

4. In sub-Saharan Africa more than 25 million people are now infected with HIV and the numbers are rising each year

5. Extreme poverty, civil war and domestic violence expose millions of women and children around the world to HIV infection on a daily basis

6. Babies in Africa are routinely raped by HIV infected men who believe this will rid them of the virus

So what are we supposed to do faced with the sheer enormity of this global catastrophe? Most of us do nothing. Television footage of the Tsunami disaster, which claimed an estimated 250,000 lives, prompted the world's population to react as never before in response to a humanitarian disaster. In that same year the HIV epidemic killed 2.5 million people in the sub-Saharan countries and left 12 million children orphaned. This is a disaster on a scale the world has never seen before - a disaster which, unlike the Tsunami, is preventable. But the developed world, by and large, is turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to it.

Some might argue that the scale of the crisis and the cost of tackling it are just too unmanageable to contemplate.

WHO estimates that around $1.5 billion a year is needed to implement HIV prevention programmes in the African countries worst hit by the virus. An impossible amount, you might think. Until you consider that some of the western oil corporations which continue to exploit Africa's natural reserves make more than 10 times that amount in a single year.

And the USA alone spends a staggering $22 billion a year treating people suffering from heart disease because of their obesity.

It's certainly food for thought.

Please submit your thoughts and opinions regarding AIDS and HIV to Guide4Living, and take the time to read through out personal stories.

In order to understand and appreciate the various issues regarding this pandemic, it is essential that the terms 'HIV' and 'AIDS' be scrutinized from a communications standpoint. HIV refers to "Human Immunodeficiency Virus'. This tiny organism when it infects someone causes a reduction in the capabilities of that persons' immune system. AIDS or "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome" is a collection of diseases that results from a damaged and weakened immune system.

Once infected with HIV, a person appears healthy and symptom-free for many years before developing AIDS, and under the new treatment protocols, may never develop AIDS.

Therefore, a significant aspect of education regarding this pandemic is explaining that HIV and AIDS are NOT the same. Which is why one should never write "HIV/AIDS" anymore, as this implies a single concept. The accepted terminology is "HIV & AIDS".

Similarly, a person infected with HIV is just that; HIV infected. These people are called HIV positive, terminology that refers to the HIV test, which, if positive, indicates that HIV infection has occurred. They do not necessarily have AIDS, may never have AIDS and treatment is aimed at preventing them developing AIDS.

People that are infected with HIV, (HIV positive), are suffering from a chronic disease in much the same way as a diabetic, asthmatic or someone with high blood pressure is. Similarly, in order to stay healthy and productive, they have to constantly manage their disease. This means adopting lifestyle changes, making dietary adjustments, taking medicines regularly, having access to the necessary medical and counselling services, and maintaining an optimistic and hopeful attitude.

Therefore, in an ideal working environment, people who are HIV positive should be afforded exactly the same respect, understanding and support one would give a colleague that has cancer, diabetes or heart disease - an appreciation that the person is trying to cope with a potentially fatal disease, is scared and worried about their health, and is not infectious through casual contact.

Unfortunately, people who are HIV positive are often not treated in this humanitarian manner. The HIV & AIDS pandemic is associated with high levels of stigma, discrimination and prejudice, a situation which complicates all aspects of treatment and care. HIV is transmitted sexually, and this leads to infected individuals being regarded as sinful, promiscuous and immoral. HIV infection has also been regarded as a 'death sentence', and this translates to infected workers being shunned by co-workers, disregarded for promotion and considered unfit to work. In addition, there is the morbid fear of casual contact transmitting the disease, which means even more fear and ostracizing of infected people.

The result is that, instead of support and care for HIV positive workers, they have to try and cope with a potentially fatal chronic disease in secret; too scared to tell anyone, fearful of being 'found out' and terrified their status will cost them their job. So, the treatment, testing, monitoring and support that is necessary for effective chronic disease management is also compromised - often with fatal consequences.

To deal with HIV infection in the workplace;

Create an environment that reduces the stigma and discrimination. This involves management, leadership and compassion.

Ensure on-going educational facilities. It is only through education that the true messages, information and medical realities can be disseminated effectively. Properly conducted, this education aspect should include all chronic diseases and conditions. This then involves many more staff and 'normalises' the HIV & AIDS aspect, categorizing it with the other chronic diseases and conditions.

Establish treatment and counselling infrastructure at the company. If done correctly this infrastructure, although initially designed around HIV & AIDS, could nevertheless deal with all chronic diseases and benefit all staff.

The author, Sean Lubbe, is a virology researcher who entered the private sector to ensure employee from all walks of life are efficiently cared for.

An accredited teacher, facilitator, counsellor and management consultant, he specialises in healthcare program innovation and strategic thinking.