How was it possible that HIV AIDS became such a severe problem? Are the economical implications higher for this one than they are for other types of diseases? What are the resemblances between HIV AIDS and other outbreak of infectious diseases? Is it possible that the scientists and the specialists can find a way to stop this calamity, which is slowly eating us, alive?
These are all questions, which have been waiting for determined answers from the specialized people. Maybe they will get the right answers soon, or maybe they will be left unanswered for many years to come. What us, regular people can do about it is to be informed.
It is crucial that us, humans are well prepared and educated enough to stay away from this deadly affection, which can bring us to face our death much earlier than we should.
HIV infection has four stages. After two to six weeks from contracting the virus, symptoms that resemble the ones of the flu can appear. This way, the infected person can feel nausea, fever, night sweating, fatigue, and altered general state, headaches, muscle pain, etc. There are patients who do not mind these symptoms, or the symptoms simply do not appear. For the correct diagnosis of the HIV AIDS, it is necessary that special tests be conducted.
The second phase is slow and can last up to several years. This is the time when HI viruses multiply (HIV). The persons who know they are infected have no physical symptoms, they are only psychological, the people who have no idea they have been infected do not experience any type of symptoms what so ever.
The third stage of this awful disease is called Aids Related Complex, also known as ARC. During this period, things and general state change for the infected individual. The symptoms they experience are pretty much the same, if not identical with acute infection. The worst part is that the symptoms do not disappear this time. They persist and they make their presence known, so the infected person experiences them at another level.
The fourth phase of the illness is described and called the AIDS phase. The AIDS as a disease is named like that now when typical other affections appear in an HIV infected body. They are called opportunist infections. This type of affections is quite harmless for a patient with a healthy immune system. However, the weak and almost destroyed immune system of an HIV infected patient cannot handle and will not be able to protect itself against regular pathogenic agents.
There has been a theory developed lately, according to which not all HIV infected patients develop the disease, but the theory still waits to be confirmed. To cure the disease is no longer possible at this stage. After stage three and four, the evolution of the disease can be slowed down with the help of medication, but that is only valid until the immune system is still active. The total destruction of the immune system will lead to the decease of that individual.
Minggu, 31 Agustus 2008
All About HIV AIDS - Facts You Must Know
Fighting Hiv/aids – Many Means, One Goal
Amidst the pessimism springing from the recent failure of about 150 prevention trials that failed to shield subjects against HIV infection, there's the resolve to continue research on developing a vaccine, and battle through all the challenges the process poses.
On a pessimistic note, hope of a vaccine in the short term isn't anywhere in sight as France's National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) has expressed. Though not in the short run, the Scripps Research Institute expressed optimism with a possibility of a vaccine in about 10 years. Till that time, the available HIV drugs need to reach one and all.
Apparently, HIV/Aids is quite a multi-headed monster. While efforts to curtail it continue, research reveals newer risky trends among people, and unravel findings that appear to be quite startling.
Risky Trends
Consider the case of India where and estimated 2 to 3.1 million HIV infected persons reside. Researchers inform that young call center workers are becoming a breeding ground for the infections because of unprotected sex with many partners amongst the staffers. About 1.3 million people graduate in India, many of whom choose to work in call centers due to good starting salaries of US$ 600 (from Indian standards).
But if you thought that India was alone, leading the trend, look at the trend in the UK, where about 33% men who have men as their sexual partners, and are aware of their HIV status, engage in unprotected and risky sexual behavior. The study was released by the Medical Research Council.
Research
Research, while it unravels mysteries, sometimes it does so at the cost of shaking you out of comfort zone. For instance, the report, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, notices increasing HIV/AIDS infection rates among intravenous drug users, sex workers and gay men. Or that, as a study published in the Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases reveals, that many people think their partners aren't infected, even without an STD/HIV testing.
However, not all is grim about the HIV/Aids scenario, a lot of efforts to fight it are underway.
A Shining Workplace Program
Realizing the gravity, the corporate sector in Mozambique has stepped forward to take the bull by the horns. Mozambique's Confederation of Business Associations (CTA) has unveiled a program called EcoSIDA that's meant to address the malady in workplaces. The aim of the body is to test workers find their HIV status. Perhaps, there are lessons in the initiative, for Indian call center industry to learn from.
Education
In Florida, US, and with the National HIV Testing Day approaching on Friday, June 27, the health agencies and not-for-profit groups would host several educational events to inform and seek active participation Southwest Florida's minority communities. Minorities have higher than average infection rates.
Policy
Recently, the teenagers of the New York state made a request to the political leadership asking them to enact a Healthy Teens Act meant to provide fund for comprehensive sex education in schools. Similarly in India's National AIDS Control Board has approved the country's National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to make care centers for kids with HIV.
Although it's heartening to see efforts on many fronts, however a lot remains to be done. While governmental policies do take time to take effect, education and initiatives to improve the reach of existing pharmaceutical drugs for HIV can perhaps be accomplished much faster.
Myself Recovered From Hiv/aids Completely
I, Mrs. T. Selvi, female aged 26 years residing in Dharamangalam Salem District, Tamilnadu, India. I would like to express my treatment regarding HIV/AIDS. Such unbelievable treatment was given by a Traditional Siddha Medical Practitioner S.K.Balasubramaniam of Erode city in Tamilnadu, India.
This sexual transmission disease was transferred me from my husband who was expired on few years back due to HIV. Up to my husband’s death I could not know anything about HIV/AIDS. After his death, my health conditions being fall down day by day. A doctor nearby my town was referred me for ELISA test and I got positive result. This result has been made a sudden depression to me. I was totally collapsed. What about my future? What about my children? There is no answer….
In that time one bright day, I have heard some information about Dr.S.K. Balasubramaniam and his institution CR Pharmaa. Immediately I met him and clarify my doubts regarding curability of HIV/AIDS, he was clarifying my entire doubts up to my satisfaction. He was invented and manufacturing an Herbal Drug namely Vairolinn. It is an herbal injection based on ancient Siddha systems of India. I desired to take the treatment from end of April 2006. Initially I have HIV viral load 115000 copies/ml. The doctor was advised me to take this medicine regularly for the period of six months. But unfortunately, I was unable to take the treatment daily, since basically I am from the family of Contract labour and unable to stay in my native regularly. Anyhow I have taken the treatment atleast fifteen days per month. After completion of 4 months my HIV viral load decreased to 76700 copies/ml and my body weight increased 2.5kgs and after 8 months it was decreased 16399 copies/ml and weight increased nearly 4.2 kgs. If I have taken the treatment regularly I have get early recovery, due to my irregular attendance for treatment it is too late to get the recovery. Further I have taken the treatment another 3 months, totally 11 months of treatment with irregular attendance of just 170 days out 10 months due my very poor financial position. For this reason I could not able to spent money for testing and even a single test was not taken in the last 4 months of treatment period.
After the completion treatment, I feel that my health condition is improved very well and able to do very hard work just like lifting of weighted materials. I have done my entire work without any difference as in my previous days.
Nearly passing of 1year and 6 months (after completion of treatment), now I am in good health condition. I am still able to do very hard work in the quarries. Anyhow i have taken a blood test as on 04.06.2008 for my satisfaction and got a result HIV Viral load is below 53 copies/ml (the minimum detectable limit is 53 copies/ml).Now I am completely recovered from AIDS, since my HIV viral load is lesser than the detectable limit.
There is any advantage to me for sharing my story with you, No. Only in a broad view, my treatment story may useful to some HIV affected patients. My motive is very simple, I and my story will useful to atleast few HIV patient to get recovery from HIV and AIDS. I have also given the doctor’s contact details so as enable to you contact him.
Stamping Out Gender Discrimination to Prevent Hiv/aids
Gender discrimination saps social consistency jeopardizing health and educational development. It is increasingly recognized as a key factor that makes women gravely vulnerable to AIDS and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Improving and intensifying poverty reduction strategies pragmatically, overall development programs should be en-gendered. Otherwise development achievements may be endangered failing to contain epidemic.
Approximately 17.7 million women were living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 all over the world. Multiple vulnerabilities like social, cultural, economical and biological factors intertwined as a vicious circle may make prevalence sky-high anytime among women in the developing countries of Asia. So we have to raise a clarion call on combating the spread of epidemic through ensuring gender equality.
Gender discrimination promotes unequal access to resources and opportunities, sexual violence, practice of unprotected sex, women trafficking and women’s paltry representation and participation in social development activities. All of this result in power disparities that characterize personal relationships between male and female undermine the development of not only women but also a nation to a great extent. In this context, capitalizing on capacity building initiatives for vulnerable women encompassing sensitization, training & orientation, exchanging information, experience & views and networking may play an important role to reduce the incidents of HIV as a whole.
Having significant and multifaceted impact on public health, education, technology, business and administration sector as well as on demography, household, macro economy and society on a great scale, HIV/AIDS continues to spread in Asia and the Pacific. Comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs have been initiated successfully in some countries. Nonetheless several grave factors like illiteracy, gender inequality, unprotected extra marital sexual behavior, increasing use of intravenous drugs, isolation from generic health care services as well as lack of outreach treatment and care services are contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS gradually from most-at-risk population to the general population. As a result, the number of HIV infections among women is increasing day by day. This is why focusing very appropriately and timely on the importance of women empowerment, policy makers should be made gender sensitized necessarily.
Adopting an inter-sectoral approach to gender equality and establishing links between gender, development and HIV/AIDS, vulnerable nations have to have technical supports to confront epidemic. There is no alternative to integrate gender into such major development areas as good governance, poverty alleviation, disaster management & recovery, sustainable environment promotion, information & development communication (IDC) as well as HIV/AIDS prevention.
An in-depth study entitled ‘The impact of women empowerment on HIV/AIDS prevention in Bangladesh’ conducted by BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services) indicates that women are mostly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS due to their inherited conservative behavior, beliefs in superstitions and religious dogmas. They are deprived of enjoying their minimal rights as well. Consequently they are affected by gender discrimination severely. A recent survey initiated by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallayan Foundation showed that only 22% young women (15-25 years) had heard of HIV/AIDS and do not know how to protect themselves from AIDS/STIs.
HIV/AIDS epidemic is mounting all over the world especially in the developing countries being the greatest impediment to human development. Young girls and women are greatly vulnerable due to their lack of power and means to protect themselves from practice of unsafe sex and ignorance as regards reproductive health. Through a gender lens, multisectoral development strategies should be both pro-poor and pro-women supporting the integration of HIV/AIDS prevention into the development planning activities. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are intended to halve extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. So in the course of reducing poverty, promotion of gender equitable behaviors through gender awareness will be able to contribute to reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS as per the desired achievement .
Hiv- Causes of Hiv, Aids and Risk Factors
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection has now spread to every country in the world and has infected more than 40 million people worldwide as of the end of 2003. More than 1.1 million people in the United States have been infected with HIV. The scourge of HIV has been particularly devastating in Sub-Saharan Africa. The proportion of adult women among those infected with HIV is increasing.
HIV is present in the blood and genital secretions of virtually all individuals infected with HIV, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. The spread of HIV can occur when these secretions come in contact with tissues such as those lining the vagina, anal area, mouth, or eyes (the mucus membranes), or with a break in the skin, such as from a cut or puncture by a needle.
What are the early symptoms of HIV infection?
Many people do not develop any symptoms when they first become infected with HIV. Some people, however, get a flu-like illness within three to six weeks after exposure to the virus. This illness, called Acute HIV Syndrome, may include fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, diarrhoea and enlarged lymph nodes (organs of the immune system that can be felt in the neck, armpits and groin). These symptoms usually disappear within a week to a month and are often mistaken for another viral infection.
Neurological and psychiatric involvement: HIV infection may lead to a variety of neuropsychiatric sequelae, either by infection of the now susceptible nervous system by organisms, or as a direct consequence of the illness itself.
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii; it usually infects the brain causing toxoplasma encephalitis but it can infect and cause disease in the eyes and lungs
Risk Factors
Have unprotected sex with multiple partners. You're at risk whether you're heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Unprotected sex means having sex without using a new latex or polyurethane condom every time.
Have unprotected sex with someone who is HIV-positive.
Have another sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis.
Low Status of Women: Infection rates have been on the increase among women and infants in some states. As in many other countries, unequal power relations and the low status of women, as expressed by limited access to human, financial, and economic assets, weakens the ability of women to protect themselves and negotiate safer sex, thereby increasing vulnerability.
Many of these risk factors are behavioral in nature. In other words, by avoiding high-risk behaviors, you can reduce or virtually eliminate your risk of HIV/AIDS infection. Learn the risk factors. If necessary, change your behavior.
Building Life Skill Through Reproductive Health Literacy Reduces Vulnerability to Hiv/aids
Reproductive health literacy has a sustainable preventive impact to promote a healthy lifestyle as well as responsible behavior. It is among the most powerful tools for reducing adolescents’ vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through providing necessary knowledge, stimulating positive attitudes and bringing about life skills. Life skill engendered from reproductive health literacy mobilizes efforts targeting to lessen high risk behavior.
Best practices may be adopted undoubtedly through peer education resulting in positive attitude within positive environment. An effective reproductive health literacy approach is multi-sectoral and integrated to address all factors that increase vulnerability as for HIV/AIDS. Vulnerable sexual behavior nourished by ill believes, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure and so on deprives people to enhance ability to prevent STIs. Ensuring to attain life skill, reproductive health literacy fosters analytical thinking and healthy habits. Adolescents having qualitative reproductive health literacy are very much responsible to gather adequate knowledge and potential expertise to curb infection of HIV/AIDS.
Adolescents need skills necessarily to practice safe behavior through reproductive health literacy with a view to creating self-esteem extensively to foil undesired peer and adult pressure. Thus they may have such core life skills as negotiation, ability of working together, self-awareness, decision-making, critical thinking, bargaining and diversity of creativity through gender session, orientation, training, courtyard meeting for exchanging views and experiences.
Adolescent girls are very much vulnerable suffering from discrimination and depriving of rights due to their social and cultural values and ill believes. Consequently they are mostly drop-out from formal education and made resort to risky behavior. Lack of access to HIV/AIDS information and prevention services provokes them to practice unsafe sexual behavior.
Adolescents, especially the girls, have to have exclusive opportunity to be aware of HIV/AIDS through preventive education that they are able to maintain their future partner’s reproductive and sexual health. Parents often feel embarrassed and hesitate to discuss with their adolescents to teach them about STIs frankly due to their strong religious believes, superstition practices and moral resistance.
Qualitative reproductive health literacy integrating preventive education to promote life skill ensures the social empowerment of adolescents. Academic curriculum should be designed and conducted to stimulate the creativity of adolescent girls through the holistic approach of income generating activities (IGA) internalizing gender awareness. Thus the impact of qualitative reproductive health literacy will sustain comprehensively making them socially empowered. After a certain period completing their secondary education, they will be able to influence their community as a persuasive pressure group to be aware of HIV/AIDS. In the name of women empowerment, this kind of life skill has a far-reaching and promising development output.
Adolescents have the consecutive acceptance and access to the respective community people. They may organize community based organizations (CBOs) in order to raise awareness. In the course of ongoing community mobilization through CBOs, adolescents will be able efficiently to set the community people thinking about HIV/AIDS prevention. Eventually the knowledge on HIV/AIDS can spread quickly and effectively as per desired outcome. Leaving a long lasting mark upon the community people, thus community based HIV/AIDS prevention program will be expanded by way of advocacy and behavioral change communication (BCC) on a great scale. In this aspect, the adolescents have to be trained up to conduct intensive interpersonal communication (IPC) that they may present information on HIV/AIDS prevention in a brief, dramatic and memorable fashion.
It is the utmost important to realize the potential that the academic curriculum has to fulfill the right of adolescents to reproductive health literacy as for attaining life skill. Then the aftermath makes them committed to the campaign of HIV/AIDS prevention seriously.
Reducing Hiv/aids Vulnerability Among Adolescents
To reduce HIV/AIDS vulnerability among adolescents, there is a need to develop strategies and methods for effective curriculum focusing on sex education and life skills especially. Internalizing more participatory learning-teaching method, it is felt that a stronger integration of prevention education vis-à-vis sex & reproductive health approaches is essential for improving the high-quality HIV prevention & care. It is estimated that there are 1.2 billion adolescents in the world. Near about eighty seven percent of these adolescents live in the developing countries. More than eighty five percent adolescents of Bangladesh do not know what reproductive health is and how to practice safe sex. Most of them are not aware of how to undermine the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. To make them free from such encumbrance as HIV/AIDS, we have to ensure a healthy and promising environment. It is believed that if the adolescents have qualitative reproductive health literacy ultimately HIV/AIDS prevention programs initiated by GOs and NGos will be successful.
Only effective education can ensure qualitative reproductive health literacy. This kind of literacy helps adolescents analyze thoroughly basic information, core messages, values and praxis related to HIV/AIDS prevention. Simultaneously they are able to inculcate caring and supportive attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). They possess the basic facts and information bringing about acquisition of knowledge and development of attitudes, values, skills and practices (KAVSP) as to undermining the spread of HIV/AIDS. Consequently they have profound awareness on practicing safe sex, use of condoms, gender equity, harmful effect of early marriage, premarital sex and unplanned pregnancy.
Reducing HIV/AIDS vulnerability among adolescents may be promoted auspiciously through evaluating the attitudes and values within community based social norms/beliefs, cooperation and teamwork. From the salad days, adolescents have to be guided by active and participatory learning that they may analyze, study ideas, solve problems and apply what they learn. It is important to ensure that active learning would be fast-paced, enjoyable and personally engaging. In this regard, cooperative learning may play a vital role to make the adolescents aware of HIV/AIDS significantly. It is one kind of effective group approaches with a view to learning with common objectives, mutual rewards, shared resources and complementary roles. Through this approach, group members are stimulated to help each other to master the lesson or activity. Thus an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect are established. Eventually the learning environment is warm as well as adolescents are made to express their views, opinions, attitudes and behaviors freely.
Adolescence is the prime and sensitive period of so many physical, emotional and cognitive developments. So adolescents have to experience many changes unexpectedly. In most cases, they remain unaware of how to efficiently cope with these kinds of physical and psychological changes. Attitudes to sexuality are being developed gradually during puberty. In this time, if adolescents are misguided or deprived of acquiring reproductive health literacy they will suffer all the time in their lives. There is no doubt that sexual maturity leads to happiness and fulfillment in future personal and social relationships. So there is no alternative for adolescents to learn about issues related to reproductive health from parents, teachers and other elders for being able to understand and develop a healthy attitude.
Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is skyrocketing in the developing countries jeopardized by lack of qualitative reproductive health literacy among the adolescents. But reproductive health literacy itself offers one of the key hopes against HIV/AIDS epidemic as well as its influential eventualities. In fighting the pandemic, reproductive health literacy comprising transfer of skills and attitudes to reduce adolescents’ vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS is the most effective means. It is seriously necessary to reduce the fear of HIV/AIDS any how. Reproductive health literacy can do a lot to combat HIV/AIDS facilitating adolescents in attaining the knowledge, attitudes and skills that they need to delay sexual intercourse, reduce their number of sex partners, prevent illicit drug/substance use and avoid infection by using condoms.
The academic curriculum of the developing countries like Bangladesh should provide adolescents with opportunities to learn and practice life skills, such as decision-making and communication skills, which can strengthen other important areas of early life development. It is expected that different aspects of inclusive HIV/AIDS/STI study must be built-in into all suitable subject areas, such as reproductive health, human rights & legal aids, home economics, gender development & women empowerment, social studies and science.
Risky Behavior Fuels Vulnerability to Hiv/aids in Low Prevalence Country
Countries like Bangladesh where spread of HIV/AIDS is relatively slow nowadays have a window of opportunity to avoid more serious epidemics. Comprehensive access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in low prevalence countries should be ensured through strengthening integrated HIV/AIDS prevention programs and projects. In this regard, highlighting the priorities of an effective response to the epidemic, it is very much essential to take the exclusive scope to keep HIV at bay. It should be recognized that to scale up prevention, treatment, care and support is a vital right for all.
Encompassing enhanced access to inclusive treatment and prevention programs, significant developments have been found in recent years in global efforts to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. But due to practicing risky behavior, the number of people living with HIV is increasing consecutively. Diminution of national HIV prevalence is being brought about in some sub-Saharan African countries, though this kind of trend is neither remarkable nor long-lasting satisfactorily.
If there is low prevalence of HIV in a country it does not indicate that HIV prevention is low priority. Comprehensive access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in low prevalence countries may be promoted through developing a holistic and integrated national strategy plan with far-seeing and pragmatic targets for being achieved by 2010. To contain the spread of HIV epidemic, innovative HIV/AIDS prevention programs/projects have to be initiated complementing government efforts to orchestrate national strategic plan successfully through effective partnership as a whole.
Ensuring the involvement of civil society, NGOs, young people, religious leader as well as people living with HIV, a potential national AIDS coordinating authority comes in for maintaining profound linkages between national strategic plans and such other relevant programs as tuberculosis, sexual transmitted infection, reproductive health, general health care and so on. There is no alternative to mobilize human resources through improved management and capacity building for all aspects of HIV and AIDS prevention.
Greater availability of injectable drugs, stigma and discrimination towards people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, women trafficking, polygamy and early marriage may trigger epidemics on a large scale. Countries with low levels of HIV infection need sufficient funding, challenging and well-defined targets, and much-admired political and cultural commitment as well as community based well-planned social mobilization to strengthen support for national HIV/AIDS prevention programs. With an effective focus on prevention , enough financial and technical support have to be ensured to implement national strategic plans increasing significant participatory involvement in program design, implementation, advocacy and monitoring & evaluation.
In the context of developing countries, drug use is mostly a hidden subculture in the urban communities. According to the findings of BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services), 85% young people addicted in injecting regularly are severely vulnerable to ill health, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C in Bangladesh. Therefore a great urgency exists to ensure availability of health care services which protect young drug users from contracting blood-borne viruses all along the country. On the other hand, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation estimated that HIV prevalence among adolescent girls involved in such risky behavior as using drugs is higher than 60% in urban and suburban areas of Bangladesh. They must have access to health and social care services which provide support to change their high risk behavior and reduce the vulnerability caused by transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Injecting drug use, unprotected paid sex as well as unprotected sex between men considered as the centrality of high-risk behavior are fueling the skyrocketing spread of HIV/AIDS in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Two in three (67%) prevalent HIV infections in 2005 were caused by drug abuse in central Asia and Eastern Europe. Near about 13% of HIV infections was due to use of non-sterile injecting drug use equipment among sex workers and their clients in the same countries. So the countries with low levels of HIV infections have to improve surveillance systems that they may better understand the factors identifying obstacles and opportunities for scaling up national HIV prevention, treatment, care and support efforts.
Anirudha Alam
Deputy Director
(Information & Development Communication)
BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services)
183, Lane 2, Eastern Road, New DOHS
Mohakhali, Dhaka 1206
Bangladesh.
Community Based Strategic Plan to Curb Spread of Hiv/aids
Curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS is a human rights issue. A commitment to solidarity, hope and compassion promotes comprehensive campaign as for HIV/AIDS prevention. It may result in a holistic effort to strengthen community based network through advocacy, capacity building and behavioral change communication (BCC). Having no minimal amenities, community people are led to vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS enormously. They are mostly disadvantaged due to having no access to basic rights. If there is any community based common plan in support of the local response to HIV epidemic the reasons of vulnerability may be removed gradually and effectively.
Community based strategic plan to address HIV/AIDS should be outlined to prevent escalation of epidemic through action research in ways that recognize human rights and self-respect. In this aspect, it is greatly essential to organize social mobilization and accelerate support form local stakeholders and development partners involved in the community based response to HIV. There is no doubt that community based approach is a fundamental mechanism to stimulate the local contribution to deal with HIV/AIDS. To gather maximum support for community based efforts on HIV/AIDS, at first programs have to emphasize on coming in close contact with the local people. This is the effective means to be familiar with the values and perception of local people. Then they will be made to understand and perform the desired responsibility in response to HIV/AIDS.
Community based strategic plan encompassing local expertise and constructive commitment should be initiated to subvert the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the light of national HIV policy framework and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It would allow a profound and greater understanding of the nature of epidemic, its spread and eventuality.
According to UNAIDS estimates, over half of new HIV infections are occurring among young people (15-24 years) – or over 7,000 new infections a day worldwide. Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in the communities of developing countries. Nowadays HIV is a common threat to men, women and children in all communities throughout the world. The challenges in responding to HIV/AIDS may vary enormously from community to community owing to geographical location, livelihood status, social infrastructure and so on. Cross border movement, women trafficking, neighboring to high prevalent communities, gaps in health care delivery, low levels of HIV/AIDS awareness and sexual bondage because of poverty make the communities vulnerable affecting public health systems. To combat this vulnerability with regard to HIV/AIDS, there is no single solution. But integrated community approach may play an influential role to protect from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is why adopting a gender sensitive and human rights based approach, community oriented strategic plan will be well-equipped and groomed with a wide range of local stakeholders’ support and participation to address HIV/AIDS. Side by side community people will be efficient to discuss and develop norms, values and practice as to safe sexual behavior.
Community focused strategic plan for HIV/AIDS has to be based on the reality of the epidemic engendered from thorough case studies. The prevalence of HIV may remain low in communities. But there are some considerable factors that can play vital role to fuel its rapid spread extensively. Polygamy, dowry, gender violence & discrimination, believes in superstitions as well as lack of safe health practice may kindle the spread of HIV/AIDS. If the awareness is not shaped fruitfully community wise, all of the programs to undermine the spread of HIV/AIDS will be failed. For instance, HIV/AIDS prevalence was low for many years in Indonesia even with lots of risky behavior. But in the past two or three years, the circumstances have been changed. At present, HIV/AIDS prevalence is growing severely in several communities of the country.
At last we may infer that any kind of community based strategic plan should be comprehensive, consistent, coordinated, constructive, consequence oriented and above all committed to community exclusively. Capitalizing on these key characteristics indicated by six C’s, it will be possible to attain a high watermark of success to combat skyrocketing vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
Anirudha Alam
Deputy Director
(Information & Development Communication)
BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services)
183, Lane 2, Eastern Road, New DOHS
Mohakhali, Dhaka 1206
Bangladesh.
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Senin, 04 Agustus 2008
Bone Problems –HIV/AIDS, Osteopenia and osteoporosis
People with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of developing certain bone problems. These include osteopenia (bone weakness), osteoporosis (porous bone) and osteonecrosis (bone death). These problems may be due to HIV infection itself or to side effects of the medications used to treat HIV.
Osteopenia and osteoporosis
Bones are made up of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Osteopenia is a condition in which bones lose their minerals and become weak. When mineral loss becomes severe, the bones become very thin and easy to break. This condition is known as osteoporosis.
What causes osteopenia and osteoporosis?
As we age, it is natural for our bones to lose their mineral content and become weaker. However, the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis is increased if you:
• are over 50 years old
• are female
• are Caucasian or Asian
• have low body weight
• lack calcium and vitamin D in your diet
• smoke
• regularly use large amounts of caffeine and alcohol
• do not exercise
• take steroids or certain other medications
Anti-HIV medications can cause negative side effects that may increase your risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. These include abnormal fat levels in the blood (hyperlipdemia) and abnormal changes in fat production and distribution (lipodystrophy).
What are the symptoms of osteopenia and osteoporosis?
There are no obvious symptoms in the early stages of osteopenia and osteoporosis. However, when bones get really weak fractures may occur. Fractures occur most commonly in the spine, wrists or hips and may cause pain and loss of height.
How are osteopenia and osteoporosis diagnosed?
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are usually diagnosed by a special X-ray known as a DEXA scan (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry). This tells your doctor what your bone mineral density is like. Your bone density is then compared to that of people your age and health to check if your bones are weaker than they should be.
How do you treat osteopenia and osteoporosis?
• You can help strengthen your bones by taking dietary supplements of calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.
• Your doctor may also prescribe medications such as bisphosphonates (Fosamax and Actonel) and raloxifene (Evista).
• The use of a cane, walker or crutches may help reduce the risk of falls.
• Hormone therapy was used widely in post-menopausal women to prevent bone loss. However, it has been found to increase other problems, so ask your physician for advice on how to best protect bone health after menopause.
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis means bone death. This occurs when the blood supply to the bone is cut off. It is also known as avascular necrosis.
What causes osteonecrosis?
The risk of osteonecrosis increases if you:
• have injuries to your bones and joints
• drink a lot of alcohol
• take steroids or certain other medications
• have high fat levels in your blood
What are the symptoms of osteonecrosis?
Symptoms of osteonecrosis include pain and weakness in the affected area of the body, joint stiffness, muscle pain and spasm, and loss of range of motion. Osteonecrosis often happens in the hip area.
How is osteonecrosis diagnosed?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive test to diagnose early osteonecrosis. Xrays and CT-scans can also be used to diagnose bone damage in more advanced cases.
How do you treat osteonecrosis?
If you have osteonecrosis, you may benefit from:
• surgery to reinforce the bone, remove the dead bone, or replace the affected bone and joint partially or totally
• pain medications to control the pain associated with this complication
• a cane, walker or crutches to reduce pain and prevent falls
What can I do to prevent bone problems?
Here are some ways to help your bones stay healthy and strong:
• Make sure you get enough calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. Foods that include these nutrients include: low fat milk, yogurt, cheese, canned salmon and sardines with bones, green leafy vegetables, tofu, almonds, beans and peas. You can also take calcium, magnesium and vitamin D supplements.
• Do more weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging and dancing, which can help strengthen your bones
• Reduce smoking and your intake of caffeine and alcohol.
• Maintain healthy levels of fat in your blood.
• Reduce your risk of falls.
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