Writing Expedition Monday || HIV/AIDS by @rossnenye

Hello everyone, good morning to you all. Hope you're had an amazing night rest? During one of my visit to Federal Teaching Hospital Abakiliki in Ebonyi state where my sister worked, I visited the HIV/AIDS Unit where my sister was working at that time. I stayed for about 4 hours and while I was there not less than 20 persons living with HIV came to collect their drugs for the month and most of them were remote villager. This very thing got me thinking that so many people are living with this virus and some don't even know.

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What is HIV/AIDS?
HIV is an acronym that stands for Human Immuno Virus. HIV is a RNA virus that attacks and damages the Immune system and makes the immune system unable to fight Infection. This condition is called Immunocompromised or immunosuppressed. The virus uses reverse transcriptase to multiply in the Immune system. When HIV is not treated, it leads to AIDS, an acronym that stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS has no cure.

Ways of contracting HIV/AIDS.

Unprotected Sexual contact
HIV can be contracted from having unprotected sex with an infected partner.

Perinatal means
An infected mother can transmit HIV to her child through child birth or breast milk.

Circumcision
HIV can be contracted from Infected Circumcision objects.

Cut or pierce from sharp objects
HIV can also be contracted by cut or pierce from sharp objects used by an infected person. Chances of contracting HIV through this means is slim because the Virus does not survive outside the human body for a long time.

Symptoms of HIV
Constant fever.
Diarrhoea
Loss of weight
Fatigue.

Ways of preventing HIV/AIDS

Always go for routine HIV test.

Incase of exposure to the virus, take Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) this prevents the virus from multiplying in the body.

Infected mothers should not breastfeed their child.

Abstinence

Infected women should give birth to their children through Caeseran Section.

Positive Living for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Take your drugs regularly and go for routine medical check-ups.

Eat healthy and exercise regularly.

Accept yourself and your condition.

Join a HIV/AIDS support group.

Contracting the disease is not the end of the world so do things that makes you happy like going out with friends, going to the beach, Cinema e t.c

Treatment for HIV/AIDS
There is no cure for HIV but a carrier can live a healthy life by taking Anti-Retroviral drugs. There is no drugs and cure for AIDS.

Thanks for reading through, I invite @leudi, @joshud and @raphealc to participate in this contest.