World AIDS day PORT HARCOURT...FACTS YOU MUST KNOW

Today happens to be the World AIDS day. This is a day in which I feel within me that I am obliged to speak or to write to people about AIDS and to find ways to reduce the rate at which AIDS transmission can be reduced. This article is what almost everybody must have read. So chill and enjoy.

AIDS IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE.
AIDS means Acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Acquired means something that you can get.
Immunity just means the body's defence mechanism.
Deficiency means a lack of something.
Syndrome means constellation of different signs and symptoms.

HOW CAN AIDS BE TRANSMITTED
AIDS can be transmitted through various ways. They include;

1. Sexual transmission
2. Vertical transmission
3. Blood transfusion with infected with the virus.

SEXUAL TRANSMISSION
This occurs when you practice unsafe sex with person or persons with the virus.

Vertical Transmission
A mother who is infected with HIV is capable of transmitting the virus to the unborn child. Thank God that it can be prevented

HOW CAN WE PREVENT AIDS

A- ABSTINENCE
B- BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR PARTNER
C- CONDOM USAGE
D- DRUGS
E- EDUCATE

Abstinence to me means do not involve yourself in any sexual activity. This is one of the most important way to prevent the spread

Be faithful to your partner means that both parties should be faithful to each other.

In my own view, nobody can be trusted so I personally advice the use of condoms to protect yourself.

If infected, drugs should be taken. As a matter of fact drugs are capable of reducing the viral load to undetectable values and hence can prevent transmission from person to person.

Education is another way of reducing the rate of transmission. This again is an obligation to everyone who is knowledgeable about this subject. This also can reduce the global burden.

OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF AIDS
The first is KNOW YOUR STATUS. This can help in the transmission because when you know, you can caution yourself and go for treatments.

The second is POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS. This means that if a person is exposed to a patient that happens to be living with HIV and takes the post exposure prophylaxis treatment within 6 hours of exposure, the person will be tested negative.
Also for couples in which one of the spouse is HIV positive and the other is negative. Mostly when the woman is positive, if she wants to make babies, she is still capable of doing that because of the developement of PRE EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS which makes HIV disease and not a death sentence.

Health personnels are advised to always put on PPEs before contact with patients. Also people shouldn't cap needles.

Stigmatisation should be prevented so as to prevent people from running into depression and death.

WORLD AIDS DAY PORT HARCOURT
This year in port harcourt we had a walk and we educated people about HIV/AIDS and this was led by Dr. Mrs Rosemary Ogwu. Other dignitaries present were the vice chancellor of UNIPORT Prof. Ndowa Lale, The provost of college of health science Prof. C.N Mato, the deputy Vice chancellor of UNIPORT, prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi. Kick out AIDS in your own way.

femi checking himself..know your status!!!