Hiv/Aids Awareness Campaign: The Joint United Nations Programme On HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) - World AIDS Day Was The First

HIV/AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). World AIDS Day was the first
ever global health day started of December 1, 1988. This year’s theme: EQUALIZE.
The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them.
This World AIDS Day, 1 December, UNAIDS is urging each of us to address the inequalities
which are holding back progress in ending AIDS.
The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven
practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS. These include:
Increase availability, quality and suitability of services, for HIV treatment, testing and prevention,
so that everyone is well-served and to help end the stigmatization been faced by the people
suffering from aids related deasses.
What is the meaning of HIV and AIDS?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is
not treated, it can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the late stage
of HIV infection that occurs when the body's immune system is badly damaged because of the
virus.
HIV is the virus that’s passed from person to person. Over time, HIV destroys an important kind
of the cell in your immune system (called CD4 cells or T cells) that helps protect you from
infections. When you don’t have enough of these CD4 cells, your body can’t fight off infections
the way it normally can.
How do you get HIV?
HIV is carried in semen (cum), vaginal fluids, anal mucus, blood, and breast milk. The virus gets
in your body through cuts or sores in your skin, and through mucous membranes (like the inside
of the vagina, rectum, and opening of the penis). You can get HIV from:
• having vaginal or anal sex
• sharing needles or syringes for shooting drugs, piercings, tattoos, haircuts etc.
• getting stuck with a needle that has HIV-infected blood on it
• getting HIV-infected blood, semen (cum), or vaginal fluids into open cuts or sores on
your body
• HIV can also be passed to babies during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
• A long time ago, some people got HIV from infected blood transfusions.
What are the symptoms of HIV & AIDS?

The first 2-4 weeks after being infected with HIV, you may feel feverish, achy, and sick. These
flu-like symptoms are your body’s first reaction to the HIV infection. During this time, there’s a lot
of the virus in your system, so it’s really easy to spread HIV to other people. The symptoms only
last for a few weeks, and then you usually don’t have symptoms again for years. But HIV can be
spread to other people — whether or not you have symptoms or feel sick.
You have AIDS when you get rare infections (called opportunistic infections) if you’ve lost a
certain number of CD4 cells.
The signs of AIDS include:
• Thrush (a thick, white coating on your tongue or mouth)
• Sore throat, skin rashes
• Feeling really tired, dizzy, and lightheaded
• Headaches
• Losing lots of weight quickly
• Having diarrhea, fevers, or night sweats for a long time
• Swollen or firm glands in your throat, armpit, or groin
• Deep, dry coughing spells
• Feeling short of breath
• Bleeding from the mouth, nose, anus, or vagina
How can we prevent HIV?
• Abstinence: The only 100% certain way to avoid HIV is to not have vaginal or anal sex.
• Use of condom: Correct and consistent use of the condoms lowers the risk of getting it.
• PrEP: PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a pill you take once a day that can
help you prevent HIV. If taken consistently for between 28 to 30 days, will help to boast
your immune system to wards off the virus.
• PEP: PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a series of pills you start taking
after you’ve been exposed to HIV that lowers your chances of getting HIV. You have to
start PEP within 72 hours (3 days), after you were exposed to HIV for it to work.
• ART: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of medicines that slows down the
effects of HIV in your body and can help you stay healthy for many years. ART lowers
the amount of HIV in your body (called your viral load) — sometimes to the point where
HIV is undetectable (undetectable = untransmitable).
• Getting tested for HIV and STDs: Getting tested is the only way to find out if you have
HIV. HIV tests are recommended for all adults. HIV tests are quick, painless, and
sometimes free. Test can be done using HIV testing kit or in the lab, health centers and
clinics. Heart to Heart clinics are located throughout Nigeria and offer confidential HIV
services at no cost. You can find a heart to heart clinic and visit to get a confidential HIV
test and get condoms. Counseling on HIV prevention and treatment is also available.
NOTE: IF YOU ARE NOT INFECTED, THEN YOU ARE AFFECTED.

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HIV/AIDS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

What are the symptoms of HIV & AIDS?

NOTE: IF YOU ARE NOT INFECTED, THEN YOU ARE AFFECTED.

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