TOPIC ONE : INTRODUCTION TO HIV AND AIDS

HIV / AIDS
What is HIV?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, if not treated

HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, which is our body's natural defence against
illness. The virus destroys a type of white blood cell in the immune system called a T-helper cell,
and makes copies of itself inside these cells. T-helper cells are also referred to as CD4 cells.

As HIV destroys more CD4 cells and makes more copies of itself, it gradually breaks down a
person's immune system. This means someone living with HIV, who is not receiving treatment,
will find it harder and harder to fight off infections and diseases.

If HIV is left untreated, it may take up to 10 or 15 years for the immune system to be so severely
damaged it can no longer defend itself at all. However, the speed HIV progresses will vary
depending on age, health and background.

Basic facts about HIV

 HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.

 There is effective antiretroviral treatment available so people with HIV can live a
normal, healthy life.
 The earlier HIV is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can start - leading to better long
term health. So regular testing for HIV is important.
 HIV is found in semen, blood, vaginal and anal fluids, and breast milk.
 HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat, saliva or urine.
 Using male condoms or female condoms during sex is the best way to prevent HIV
and other sexually transmitted infections.
 If you inject drugs, always use a clean needle and syringe, and never share equipment.
 If you are pregnant and living with HIV, the virus in your blood could pass into your
baby's body, or after giving birth through breastfeeding. Taking HIVtreatment virtually
eliminates this risk.

What is AIDS?
AIDS is not a virus but a set of symptoms (or syndrome) caused by the HIV virus. A person is
said to have AIDS when their immune system is too weak to fight off infection, and they develop
certain defining symptoms and illnesses. This is the last stage of HIV, when the infection is very
advanced, and if left untreated will lead to death.

Basic facts about AIDS

 AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

 AIDS is also referred to as advanced HIV infection or late-stage HIV.
 AIDS is a set of symptoms and illnesses that develop as a result of advanced HIV
infection which has destroyed the immune system.
 Treatment for HIV means that more people are staying well, with fewer people
developing AIDS.

Although there is currently no cure for HiV with the right treatment and support, people with
HIV can live long and healthy lives. To do this, it is especially important to take treatment
correctly and deal with any possible side-effects,

MYTHS ABOUT HIV AND AIDS

FAST FACTS:

 There are lots of myths around, but the facts of how you can get HIV are very simple.
 By knowing the facts about how HIV is actually transmitted, you can save yourself a lot
of worry and help to bust myths among others too.
 One of the most common myths people living with HIVhear is that they can tie
cured. There's no cure yet for HIV, but antiretroviral treatment works and will keep
someone living with HIV healthy.

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about how you can get HIV. Here we debunk those
myths and give you the facts about how HIV is passed on.

HIV can only be passed on from person to person if infected body fluids (such as blood, semen,
vaginal or anal secretions and breast milk) get into your bloodstream in these ways:

 Unprotected sex
 From a mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding
 Injecting drugs with a needle that has infected blood in it
  Infected blood donations or organ transplants.

You cannot get HIV from...

Someone who doesn't have HIV

You can only get HIV from someone who is already infected with HIV.

Touching someone who has HIV

HIV can't survive outside of the body so you won't get HIV from touching someone, hugging
them or shaking their hand.

Sweat, tears, urine or faeces of someone who has HIV

There is no HIV in an infected person's sweat, tears, urine or faeces.

Mutual masturbation

Mutual masturbation, fingering and hand-jobs are all safe from HIV. However, if you use sex
toys make sure you use a new condom on them when switching between partners.

Insects

You cannot get HIV from insects. When an insect (such as a mosquito) bites you it sucks your
blood - it does not inject the blood of the last person it bit.

Animals

HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency Virus, which means that the infection can only be
passed on between humans.

Air

HIV cannot survive in the air so coughing, sneezing or spitting cannot transmit HIV. New or
sterilised needles
New needles cannot transmit HIV because they haven't been in the body of an infected person. If
used needles are cleaned and sterilised properly they can't transmit HIV either.

Water

HIV can't survive in water, so you won't get HIV from swimming pools, baths, shower areas,
washing clothes or from drinking water.

Food and cooking utensils

HIV can't be passed on through food or cooking utensils even if the person preparing your food
is living with HIV.

Toilet seats, tables, door handles, cutlery, sharing towels

HIV doesn't survive on surfaces, so you can't get HIV from any of these. Musical instruments

HIV can't survive on musical instruments. Even if it is an instrument that you play using your
mouth, it can't give you HIV.

Used condoms

HIV can only survive for a really short amount of time outside of the body. Even if the condom
had sperm from an HIV-positive person in it, the HIV would be dead.

Kissing

There is such a small amount of HIV in the saliva of a person living with HIV that the infection
can't be passed on from kissing.

Oral sex

The risk of HIV from oral sex is very small unless you or your partner have large open sores on
the genital area or bleeding gums/sores in your mouth.

There is only a slightly increased risk if a woman being given oral sex is HIV positive and is
menstruating. However, you can always use a dental dam to eliminate these risks.

Tattoos and piercings

There is only a risk if the needle used by the professional has been used in the body of an HIV-
infected person and not sterilised afterwards. However, most practitioners are required to use
new needles for each new client.

YOU CAN'T PREVENT OR CURE AIDS BY

 Washing after sex

 Sex with a virgin
 Pulling out method
 Spells and herbal medicine
 Using the contractive pill

Note; Condoms and PrEP used correctly and consistently protect you from HIV transmission
during sex.

Can herbal medicine cure HIV?

Some people choose to take alternative forms of medicine, such as herbal remedies, as a natural
way of treating HIV. However, herbal remedies do network.

What's more, taking herbal medicines can be dangerous as they will not protect your immune
system from infection and may interact poorly with ARVs if you are taking them alongside
treatment. The only way you can stay healthy when living with HIV is to take antiretroviral
treatment as prescribed by your doctor or healthcare worker, and to attend viral load monitoring
appointments to make sure they are working for you.

If I get infected fluid from an HIV-positive person into my body will I definitely get HIV?

No, HIV is not always passed on from an infected person. There are lots of reasons why this is
the case. For example, if the HIV-positive person is on treatment it will reduce the amount of
HIV in their body meaning it is unlikely to be passed on.

If you're concerned that you've taken an HIV risk you may be eligible to take post-exposure
prophylaxis (PEP), which stops the virus from becoming an infection. However it's not available
everywhere and has to be taken within 72 hours to be effective.

It's really important to always take a HIV test if you think you have been at risk of HIV.
Isn’t HIV only a risk for certain groups of people?

Like most illnesses, HIV doesn't discriminate between types of people and the infection can be
passed on to anyone via one of the ways mentioned above.

Some people are more vulnerable to HIV infection if they engage regularly in certain activities
(e.g. injecting drugs) that are more likely to transmit the virus. However, it's a common
misunderstanding that HIV only affects certain groups.

While not everyone has the same level of HIV risk, everyone can reduce their risk of infection.

I'm HIV-positive and so is my partner so we don't have to worry about HIV do we?

There are many strains of the HIV virus. If you and your partner are living with HIV you still
need to protect each other from additional HIV infections, if you get infected with two or more
strains of HIV it can cause problems for your treatment.

If you are on effective treatment and a medical professional has confirmed your viral load is
undetectable, you will not pass HIV on through sex.

It’s easy to tell the symptoms of HIV...

The symptoms of HIV can differ from person-to-person and some people may not get any
symptoms at all. Without treatment, the virus will get worse over time and damage your immune
system. There are three stages of HIV infection with different possible effects.

You also cannot tell by looking at someone if they have HIV. Many people don't show signs of
any symptoms. And, for people living with HIV who are on effective treatment, they are just as
likely to be as healthy as everyone else.

Thrychonomiasis

IMPACTS OF HIV IN VARIOUS SECTORS (INFECTED AND AFFECTED)

1. Social impacts: family unit, stigmatisation, isolation

2. Economic
3. Health
4. Financial
TOPIC TWO :MODES OF TRANSMISSION OF STI AND HIV/AIDS

Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through sexual behaviors and needle or
syringe use.

Only certain body fluidsblood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal
fluids, and breast milkfrom a person who has HIV can transmit HIV. These fluids must come in
contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into the bloodstream
(from a needle or syringe) for transmission to occur. Mucous membranes are found inside the
rectum, vagina, penis, and mouth.

HIV lives in the following bodily fluids of an infected person:

 Blood
 Semen and pre-seminal fluid ("pre-cum")
 Rectal fluids/anal mucous
 Vaginal fluids
 Breast milk.

To get infected, these bodily fluids need to get into your blood through a mucous membrane (for
example the lining of the vagina, rectum, the opening of the penis, or the mouth), breaks in the
skin (like cuts), or be injected directly into your bloodstream.

Other bodily fluids, like saliva, sweat or urine, don't contain enough of the virus to transmit it to
another person.

In the United States, HIV is spread mainly by

 Having anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV without using a condom or taking
medicines to prevent or treat HIV.
 For the HIV-negative partner, receptive anal sex (bottoming) is the highest-risk
sexual behavior, but you can also get HIV from insertive anal sex (topping).
 Either partner can get HIV through vaginal sex, though it is less risky for getting HIV
than receptive anal sex.
 Sharing needles or syringes, rinse water, or other equipment (works) used to prepare
drugs for injection with someone who has HIV. HIV can live in a used needle up to 42
days depending on temperature and other factors.
  From mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. Although the risk can be
high if a mother is living with HIV and not taking medicine, recommendations to test all
pregnant women for HIV and start HIV treatment immediately have lowered the number
of babies who are born with HIV.
 By being stuck with an HIV-contaminated needle or other sharp object. This is a risk
mainly for health care workers.
 Oral sex—putting the mouth on the penis (fellatio), vagina (cunnilingus), or anus
(rimming). In general, there's little to no risk of getting HIV from oral sex. But
transmission of HIV, though extremely rare, is theoretically possible if an HIV-positive
man ejaculates in his partner's mouth during oral sex. To learn more about how to lower
your risk, see Oral Sex and HIV Risk.
 Receiving blood transfusions, blood products, or organ/tissue transplants that are
contaminated with HIV. This was more common in the early years of HIV, but now the
risk is extremely small because of rigorous testing of the US blood supply and donated
organs and tissues.
 Eating food that has been pre-chewed by an HIV-infected person. The
contaminationoccurs when infected blood from a caregiver's mouth mixes with food
while chewing. Theonly known cases are among infants.
 Being bitten by a person with HIV. Each of the very small number of documented cases
hasinvolved severe trauma with extensive tissue damage and the presence of blood. There
isno risk of transmission if the skin is not broken.
 Contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and HIV-infected blood
orblood-contaminated body fluids.
 Deep, open-mouth kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums and blood
fromthe HIV-positive partner gets into the bloodstream of the HIV-negative partner. HIV
is notspread through saliva.

A person living with HIV can pass the virus to others whether they have symptoms or not.
People with HIV are most infectious in the first few weeks after infection.

Sex without a condom

How do I protect myself from HIV?

There are a number of ways you can protect yourself from HIV, including:
  Using a condom every time you have vaginal, anal or oral sex
 Avoiding sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment with anyone if you take
drugs
 In some countries £rEP is available, this is a course of HIV drugs taken, which can be
taken daily by HIV-negative people who are at greater risk of HIV to prevent infection
 Taking HIVtreatment if you are a new or expectant mother living with HIV, as this
can dramatically reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby during pregnancy,
childbirth and breastfeeding
 Asking your healthcare professional if the blood product you are receiving (blood
transfusion, organ or tissue transplant) has been tested for HIV
 Taking precautions if you are a healthcare worker, such as wearing protection (like
gloves and goggles), washing hands after contact with blood and other bodily fluids,
and safely disposing of sharp equipment.
Relationship between HIV/AIDS and STIs
Increased knowledge of causes and spread of STI, demonstrate that there is a close relationship
between the three. The basic facts are:-
 People with STI are at great risk of acquiring and transmitting; this is because the source
and the ulcers caused by STI around sexual organs provide break through for HIV to
pass
 Pus that oozes out of the source is rich in white blood cells that provide a rich
environment for HIV transmission.
 Constant exposure to STIs increases the chance of being infected by HIV
 Both STIs and HIV show no symptoms in the early stages; yet the person can still infect
others
 STI can be cured if qualified health workers give correct treatment early enough
 HIV cannot be cured and leads to death
 HIV / AIDS are STDs
 Women who are infected with STDs and HIV can infect their unborn babies
 Guidelines on prevention of STI will also prevent HIV
Others include :
 (i) The behavior that puts a person at a risk of contracting STD e.g. substance abuse
because it impairs judgment about social behavior, multiple partners, non-systematic
use of condoms puts the same person at a risk of contracting HIV infection.
(ii) HIV weakens a person’s immune system, therefore the person has a high risk of
contracting HIV and AIDS.
STDs cause erosion of the genital linings, making a person to have broken and open skill.
Inflamed and tender skin makes it easier for HIV to be transmitted from one person to another

PRACTICE AND BELIEFS THAT PROMOTE THE SPREAD OF

HIV/AIDS

Social-cultural and Religious practice

 Men circumcision  Female genital mutilation

 Human sacrifices  Wife inheritance
 Wife sharing  Polygamy
 Traditional mid-wifely  Belief in traditional medicinemen.
 Belief in social class (AIDS as a  Prostitution /commercial sex
distance for the poor).  Ignorance / Illiteracy
 Belief that it is a disease for some  Promiscuity
regions /urban centres.  Early marriages
 Drug abuse /Alcoholism.

Others:

Practices that promote the spread of HIV and AIDS

 Polygamy
 Non medical circumcision
 Prostitution
 Wife inheritance
 Homosexuality
 Lesbianism
  Sharing of sharp objects
 Rape
Beliefs that promote HIV/AIDS
1. Cleansing
2. Witchcraft
3. Assumption – circumcised people don’t get AIDS
- AIDS can be curd by local herbs
- Aids is a curse

TOPIC III: EFFECTS OF HIV/AIDS TO IMMUNE SYSTEM

What is immunity?
It is the body’s ability to defend itself against infections or diseases i.e. it is the defense
mechanism of the body.
It is the ability of the body to fight all infections or diseases.
When the body senses danger or a strange presence, it produces antibodies that protect the body
against the attack. There are basically two types of immunity:
(a) Active immunity – it is long lived the body’s internal mechanism is active.
(b) Passive immunity – short lived usually boosted by factors such as nutrition of the person,
exercise, social relation etc.
Effects of HIV/AIDS on body immunity
1. The virus enters the body, attacks and destroys the immune system, by destroying
important cells i.e. CD4 cells, which controls and supports the immune system after
which it continues to attack the CD4 receptors (receptor cells) which are helper cells. The
CD4 helper cells are very important in the regulation and the control of the immune
response to strange attacks by performing the following function:-
 Directly or indirectly protect the body from inversion by certain bacteria, fungi,
viruses, protozoa and parasites
 They clear way a number of cancer cells. The cancer causing cells are called
carcinogens.
 They are involved in the production o substances which are important fro the
body defense.
  They influence the development and the functions of monophytes and
microphages which are scavenger cells in the immune system.
 It produces some cells in the body that eats the dead cells.
When a person is immune deficient, the body has difficulty in defending itself against many
infections and some cancers.
When someone does have AIDS?
A person is described as having AIDS when the HIV related immune deficiency is so severe that
life threatening infections and cancer occurs. This condition only happens because the immune
system is only weakened.
The infections and the cancers are called opportunistic diseases because they take opportunity
provided by the lowered immune state.
The production of antibody in response to HIV infections
(a) The immune system develops antibodies to HIV
(b) These antibodies are not able to overcome or to destroy the virus
(c) They can usually be detected in the blood system 4 - 12 weeks after infections. These
antibodies from the basis for HIV antibody blood test.
(d) The HIV antibody test is often the only way to know if a person is definitely infected
with the virus
An introduction to the development of immune deficiency and the procreation to AIDS
A person who becomes infected usually goes through various clinical stages that cover a long
period of time i.e. between 7 months to 7 years. These stages occur;
(i) With the patient
(ii) The patient being well with no symptoms of the disease
(iii) Having mild disease
(iv) Having severe illness
(v) Finally death

Other effects of HIV/AIDS to immune system include :

 HIV infection damages immune system which provides body defence against diseases
and infection. The CD4 cells which produce anti-bodies that destroy micro-organisms
thus defending the body from infections are destroyed.
 A person dies from opportunistic bacteria, virus and other types of micro-organism that
are usually harmless to health people.
 When the immune system is destroyed the body of a positive person cannot defend itself.
AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection – opportunities infections occur because of
greatly weakened immune system.
 Several types of white cells work to protect the body from infections. These include, e.g.
lymphocytes includes B-cells and T-cells. The B-cells product antibodies (CD4 cells) that
destroy organisms invading the body. T-cells help regulate the production of anti-bodies.
This is called cell medicated immunity that will also assist in defence against certain
infection.
 CD4 cells are part of lymphocytes that are an important of part of immune systems. They
are helper cells that lead the attack against infection.
 HIV attacks the CD4 cells. The virus becomes part of the cell and when the cell
multiplies to fight infection, they also make copies of HIV.
 When a person lives with HIV for long the number of CD4 cells in the body (CD4 count)
goes down. This is a sigh that the immunity system is weakened, increases the chances of
sickness.
 There are millions of different families of CD4 cells each family is designed to fight a
specific type of germ. When HIV reduces the number of CD4 some of these can be
totally wiped out.
TOPIC FOUR:SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF HIV/AIDS
HIV and AIDS situation analysis
Situation analysis refers to assessment carried out to establish the HIV and AIDS situation and
impacts in the society.
This exercise is carried out through participatory surveys on HIV and AIDS.
The normal instruments of data collection are used and they include:-
Research process
 Problem statement
 Research resign
 Methodology
 Data collection
 Data analysis
 Data representation and interpretation
 Report
Methodologies
 Questionnaires
 Interviews
 Observation
 Content analysis
 Case studies
 History
The survey is carried out to establish the:-
1. Prevalence of HIV/AIDS
2. Comparative analysis (amongst different regions) e.g. different tribes, provinces, districts
etc.
3. Used to observe trends and issues which are emerging
4. For monitoring and evaluation exercises
5. Impact assessment
HIV and AIDS have had continued adverse effects on community development. Among the
effects of AIDS are:
 1. AIDS kills young and economically productive people; thus leading to loss of labour in
agriculture, industry, education and other sectors.
2. Increased pressure on health facilities and services; about 60% of hospital beds are
occupied by AIDS patients all over the nation
3. Hardships to families as those aged between 20 – 45 years have dependants who are left
suffering on their own.
4. Funeral expenses which could be more useful in other areas especially in Luo land.
5. Loss of experienced highly trained workers
6. High number of orphans under the community care whose future hinges on the balance
7. Increased child abuse, neglect, child labour and high number of street children
8. Increased single parent hood
9. Disintegration and separation of families
10. High number of widows and widowers who needs to be taken care of
11. High cost on the government side as they have to purchase ARVs, creating awareness
and facilitating VCTs.

TOPIC FIVE: PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF HIV AND AIDS

Prevention of HIV/AIDS means:
1. Changing people’s sexual habits and practices and influencing people to have a few
sexual partners as possible
2. Changing people’s bad attitude about AIDS and towards people with HIV/AIDS
3. Changing the socio-economic conditions and forces that influence the community sexual
practices e.g. poverty, migrant work, dependence on alcohol, the improvement of status
of women
4. Educating teenagers and children on HIV/AIDS and empowering them with the skills e.g.
knowing how to avoid having sex when they don’t want it and have it safely when they
want it, learning the skills of negotiation.
5. Talking to each other more openly and normally about sex and sexual issues
6. Strengthening community and family life
Ways of controlling AIDS
1. A – Abstinence
2. B – Be faithful
3. C – Use condoms
4. Screening of blood for HIV
5. Sterilizing of needles, blades and surgical instruments
Efforts of government in controlling and managing HIV and AIDS
1. Awareness creation and dissemination of information about HIV / AIDS
2. Transformation on education
3. Provision of funds and other resources
4. Training of personnel
5. Training experts, community workers
6. Provision of leadership and good will in the fight
7. Provision of testing and counseling services
8. Provision of enabling environment (peace and stability for international and local
organizations to be operated)
9. Regulatory role by controlling the conduct of HIV activities through registration and
licensing of other players for national security etc.
10. Provision of drugs and other medical services for those infected (ARVs), through the
MOH.
11. Establishment of National Aids Control Council (NACC) which is at the helm of
coordinating the activities for fighting the scourge
NACC

PACC

DACC

CACC

12. Provision of free primary education of bursaries for orphans

13. Provision of legal framework that is friendly to those fighting HIV and AIDS but is deterrent
to those who may want to deliberately affect others

14. Condom promotion

15. Mitigating against the effect of HIV e.g. provision of food, diagnosis of STDs, housing etc.

16. Provision of counseling services

17. Empowerment of women

18. Policies of blood transfusion, screening and organ transplants

19. Giving priorities to orphans in employment

20. Subsidizing the cost of hospitalization for patients

21. Fighting stigmatization and sterilization

Challenges to preventing HIV/AIDS

1. Inadequate quality awareness of the impacts of HIV/AIDS; surveys indicate that the public are
inadequately aware of the impacts of the scourge on orphans, families, productivity etc.

2. Existing cultural practices i.e. cultural ideologies and social ideologies based on traditions e.g.
witchcraft, superstition, marital practices e.g. polygamy and wife inheritance.

3. Inadequate resources i.e. lack of funds, medical facilities e.g. beds, screening facilities

4. Legal and ethical constraints; there is no proper law regarding

 Mode of reporting on HIV/AIDS and testing the victims

 No law about contract of the employer’s “PLWAS”

 No law regarding blood screening and blood products

 No law regarding insurance of HIV zero positive persons

 Mercy killing of patient

Strategies in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS

All the strategies for intervention must take into account the cultural, economic resources and the
legal constraints identified above. The strategies should include:

1.Cultural re - education i.e. mobilizing, sensitizing the community on the dignity and virtue of
safe sex, traditional virtues and embarrassing behaviour like virginity before marriage, restrain
from pre-marital sex among the youths.

2. Stressing the use of condoms against HIV and unwanted pregnancies

3. Encourage each partner to undertake regular counseling even amongst the married

4. Discourage traditional practices and habits

5. Avoid sexual intercourse after alcohol consumptions

6. Encouraging sporting and entertainment activity

7. Raise employment opportunities to reduce prostitution

8. Promotion of public awareness in learning institutions, print Medias, barazas, churches etc.

9. Formation of community organizations and committees to initiate hone grown measures

Skills in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS

Given the complexity of the socio-economic circumstances under which people contract the HIV
virus, it is important that people are adequately equipped with life skills that can enable them
deal with the pressures exerted by the circumstances.

This requires that they have a clear understanding and possession of key life skills.

Life skills are ability or psycho-social competencies that help individuals to operate or cope
effectively with the challenges of everyday’s life.

There are 3 categories of life skills namely:

1. Skills dealing and coping with one’s self

2. Skills dealing and coping with others

3. Skills fro making effective decisions

The life skills under each category is a s follows

Skills to do with one’s self

(a). Self awareness (f). Coping with your emotions

(b). self value (g). Coping with stress

(c). Self acceptance (h). Goal setting

(d). Confidence (i). Time management

(e). Assertiveness

Skills to cope with others

(a).Interpersonal relationships

(b). Development of good friendship

(c). Advocate for change

(d). Solve conflicts peacefully and amicably

Skills of making effective decision

This is meant for

 Self achievement of goals in life

 Helps in having responsible and informed decisions in life

 Solve problem situations effectively

Activities aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS

1. Health education to the public through songs, media, drama etc

2. Sensitizing community on healthy behaviour (habits and practices)

3. Opening of VCTs

4. Provision of condoms

5. Training of service providers on Home Based Care (HBC)

6. Distribution of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs)

7. Production and dissemination of information, Education and communication materials (IEC)

8. Home Based Care programmes at all community levels

9. Training of counselors

10. Mobilization of community to form peer education network within the community at all
levels

11. Condom social marketing i.e. teaching people on safe and proper use of condom and
promotion

12. Referral services for those seeking VCT, for the infected and the affected

13. Enhancing sporting activities

14. Mobilize the community to maximize their resources in preventing STDs

15. Initiation of income generating activities

16. Training of circumcisers, traditional birth attendance and traditional healers

17. Encouraging public declaration of HIV/AIDS status. This helps in:

o Mobilizing resources

o Prevention and transmission

o Helps to get support

 o Psycho-social analysis

o Helps in awareness creation

TOPIC SIX: HIV AND AIDS MANAGEMENT, CARE AND SUPPORT OF INFECTED
AND AFFECTED

There are many challenges that people living with HIV/AIDS normally face in the community.
Those affected families also face to large extent challenges of those infected.

Those affected include widows, widowers, orphans, family/ relatives, employers, friends etc.

These individuals or groups need to be supported in many ways including:

1. Psycho-social support i.e. counseling, visitation, moral support and mutual support

2. Material support; giving of items e.g. shelter, clothing, food

3. Medicare; giving of treatment and drugs e.g. using ARVs and other drugs to suppress
opportunistic infections

4. Nutrition; give balanced diet to enhance body immunity e.g. eating well etc. This will boost
the body and proper functioning of ARVs.

5. Physical exercise; for People living with Aids to strengthen and to enhance their physical well
being.

6. Spiritual support; provides hope and certainty, talk to them about God. Specific skills needed
for care of support include

 Compassion; deep feeling of willingness to help

 Empathy

 Peer counseling
  Avoidance of discrimination and stigma

 Moral, mutual and material support

The society needs thorough education to have a positive attitude towards people living with
HIV/AIDS and the affected. Every community member should show concern and compassion.
Organizations, private sectors and community should play their roles to take care of the infected
and the affected.

No one should blame, curse or victimize PLWAS but rather, love, care and provide support to
them. Respect them and respond to their needs, morally, socially, mentally and economically.

Management of HIV and AIDS

1. Admi2. Proper nutrition and health care to the infected

3. Community or home based care for the infected

4. Support structures and care for the orphan children

5. Guidance and counseling for infected and affected for psycho-social and spiritual support and
comfort

6. Going for VCT constantly

Attitudes towards people Living with AIDS (PLWAS)

1. People normally feel contempt some of the common feelings and responses are fear,
condemnation, rejection, anger, hate, bitterness etc.

Our response/attitude towards PLWAS should be;

1) Respect their rights; as other human beings

2) Need for emotional support, for comfort, social integration etc.

3) They need involvement and participation in community activities

Home Based Care (HBC)

Refers to the care and the support of HIV and AIDS patients at home

It is also known as Community care (CC)

Importance of HBC

1. Helps to mobilize and use locally available resources

2. Reduces the constraints of medical facilities e.g. beds in hospitals

3. Helps to kill discrimination and stigma

4. Creates community awareness

5. Provides psycho-social security

Cares for the PLWAS are

1. Establish the diagnosis and the time of HIV infection

2. Regular physical check-up

3. Monitoring HIV and immune status

4. Managing medical problems; other than ARVs

5. ARV treatment

6. Preventing opportunistic infections e.g. mosquito nets fro malaria

7. Advice on self care

8. Advice on safe care, safer sexual practices and wellness programmes e.g. good nutrition.
TOPIC SEVEN: COMMUNICATION OF HIV AND AIDS ISSUES

It is the process of conveying information from one source to another through a media in order to
establish a common understanding.
Communication of HIV and AIDS could be through different modes which are suitable and
acceptable amongst the receivers. The types of communication that we may employ are verbal,
non verbal, written etc.
Sources of information on HIV and AIDS
1. Health or medical institutions i.e. health centre registry from the staff registry, the patients.
2. Government reports are majorly medical reports
3. Media reports include features, discussions etc.
4. The World Health Organization (WHO)
o Solicits funds
o Disbashing funds
o Monitoring and evaluation
o They test the patency and ethicacy of drugs
o They carry out advisory services
o Keeping records
5. Learning institutions i.e. universities, colleges, secondary etc.
6. Research institutions which do comparative analysis, verification of facts on diseases, drugs
etc.
7. Conferences i.e. workshops and seminars
8. Libraries or information centers
9. From research papers or medical journals
10. CBOs, NGOs dealing in health issues
11. Newsletters, bulletins etc.
Skills in counseling the infected and the affected
Counseling is a process that helps people understand and deal with their own problems and
communicate better with those whom they are emotionally involved.
The counselor discusses and explores feelings, worries and concern of the clients
Together they work at the ay of coping with the feelings and the worries and concerns as best as
possible.
Counseling deals with majorly psychological issues/emotional whereas social work is more than
this.
Effective communication on HIV and AIDS issues in the community
The community needs both general information about AIDS and how it spread and the reasons
why it is spreading
They need to know about prevention and control
They need to know about acceptance and support of people with HIV
Help people to cope with living with HIV and AIDS
Explain and explore the relationship between people and how this affects their sexual life
They need to help especially women and teenagers to develop skills on how to negotiate with
their partners about having safer sex.
Need for safe and proper use of preventive methods
Communication on HIV and AIDS needs to be innovative and sustained
Messages need to be on-going and respective
Try to use different methods to communicate about AIDS. The methods are:
o Talk in barazas
o Seminars and workshops
o Educational dramas and role plays
o Use of posters
o Use of brochures
o Use of billboards
o Writing on buildings
o Use of books
o Use of people living with AIDS
o Help people to understand the important features of the disease and explore ways
in which realistically prevention methods can be done/put in place
o Avoid making the diseased sound pathetic by stressing the negative and terrible
consequences of it
 o Promote acceptance and sensitivity by the disease

TOPIC EIGHT :COMMON DISEASES

A disease is an abnormal condition caused by an organism that impairs body functions. In human
beings, it can be used to refer to any cause of discomfort or body dysfunction.

1. MALARIA
Caused by parasites that are carried by female anopheles mosquitoes e.g Plasmodium
flauciparum, plasmodium ovale, plasmodium vipax and plasmodium malariae.
Infection with malaria parasites if not properly treated can be fatal. Its an opportunistic
disease that easily affects PLWHA, and especially infants.
Malaria is both preventable and curable.
Ways of prevention
 Use of mosquito nets.
 Clearing bushes
 Draining stagnant water
 Taking anti-malaria while visiting prone areas.
 Spraying the compound with insecticide.
Scarcity of resources, poor health practices and socio-economic instability hinder malaria
control activities.
Symptoms
 Fever and flu-like illness.
 Shivering, headache, muscle aches and tiredness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
may also occur.
 Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice, yellow colouring of the skin and eyes,
because of the loss of red blood cells.
 Infection with one type of malaria plasmodium may cause kidney failure,
seizures, mental confusion, coma and death.
2. TB (TUBBACO BASOLI)
Symptoms
 Cough (prolonged)
 Fever
  Loss of weigh
 Loss of appetite
Prevention
 Vaccination
 Good ventilation
3. Pneumonia
4. Skin infections
5. Marasmus & kwashiorkor

Causes of common diseases

1. Unhygienic living conditions – living near hazardous sites eg. Fuming factories and
machines, slum areas, dump sites, overcrowded urban centres.
Unhygienic food handling – failure to wash hands after visiting the toilets and before
eating food, improper cooking methods, poor cleaning of dishes.
Poor persona hygiene – failure to take a birth, wash clothes, shaving, and nail cuts
2. Poor nutrition and bad eating habits. Junk food with light fats contents and cholesterol;
too much sugar, salt and spices, unbalanced diet, malnutrition.
Poor balancing between amount of food eaten and work done.
Poor weaning procedures in young children and short breast feeding periods.
3. Exposure to harsh environmental conditions – very cold weather, air, pollution, water
pollution, radioactive rays, noise.
4. Poor sanitation and waste disposal – improper use (or complete absence of pit latrines,
careless dumping, leaking sewerage systems.
5. Psychological causes – stress, depression – cause stroke, comma and mental instability,
isolation, drug abuse, (smoking, drinking cause lung or liver disease).

Impact of Diseases on Development

1. Reduction in the size and experience of the labour force – Due to deaths from the
diseases, poor health etc.
2. Reduced labour productivity due to absenteeism on medical basis, less energy and
strength to work and low morale.
3. Increased expenditures on staff recruitment and training to replace those who die, and
leads to negative impacts on development.
 4. Reduction in savings and investment as health expenditure on AIDS escalates; low
foreign direct investments.
5. Repletion of economic resources to cater for medical expenses.

Intervention Measures on common diseases

1. The government through the ministry of health should come up with an awareness
campaign strategy, targeting the most affected areas e.g. a malaria prevention awareness
campaign in Kisumu lake region.
2. The ministry of education should work together with the ministry of health to implement
an education system that integrates health lessons to equip people with the knowledge
from an early stage.
3. The ministry of (special programs together with the ministry of environment should come
up with a disaster risk reduction strategy that aims at resettling people from hazardous
areas e.g. river banks, slopes, slums and dump sites.
4. The ministry of environment should come up with a strategy to reduce air pollution from
industrial fumes and waste products.
5. People should be taught on hygienic measures both at individual levels and household
levels. This will include personal body hygiene, food handling hygiene and the cleaning
of the compound.
6. Mothers should be advised on child immunization and vaccination to prevent infant and
child mortality through common diseases that are both preventable and curable.

TOPIC NINE: GENDER AND HIV AND AIDS

Gender It refers to socially constructed roles of either man or woman on the other hand sexuality
refers to biological differences among men and women. When looking at gender and HIV/AIDS
we are interested in finding reasons why either women or men are at higher risks of acquiring
infections and how this affects them and their health.
Reasons for women vulnerability to HIV/AIDS
Women are more vulnerable to HIV than men because of socio-economic reasons: cultural and
political reasons too.
The reasons include:
1. Respective sexual partner; the semen is deposited in the woman’s virginal and remains there
for some time, giving the virus an opportunity to gain entry into the body.
2. The uterine, cervical and vaginal conditions i.e. incase of cervical erosions or cervical ectopic
or cervical cancer.
3. Inflammation or damage is usually from STDs or from the user of herbal or other substances
from the vagina.
4. Infected sperms may also cause inflammation as HIV virus is usually attracted to
inflammatory tissues or cells.
5. STDs in women usually go hidden or unnoticed and as a result they don’t seek immediate
effect.
6. Poor access to health facilities by women
7. Other genital diseases are also contributing
8. Menstruation; it results into a large row exposed area of the inner uterine linings which makes
the transmission of the virus easier just before during and after menstruation
9. Social status of women especially in low socio-economic communities makes women less
empowered in decision making and control of their life and in negotiating safer sexual practices
with their partners. They are often forced by circumstances of life into selling sex for money.
They have no power on their social status too.
10. In situations where husbands or sexual partners have sex with others, it is the women who are
usually the culprit they will not know the other partners and if they know, they may not control
their partners.
11. Young girls are culprits of marauding men because of myths and misconceptions and
physical weaknesses.
Women contribution to fight against HIV and AIDS
1. Economic empowerment through income generating activities through gainful employments
2. Practice of safer sex through women condoms
3. Slow but surely making decisions on their sexuality
4. Avoid use of drugs and substance abuses
5. Avoiding insecure places that can lead to rape
6. Avoidance of prostitution
7. Establishing organizations
8. Taking care of women’s welfare e.g. CIDA
9. Say no to wife inheritance
10. Discourage Female Genital Mutilation
11. Discourage early and forced marriages
12. Avoid peer pressure
13. Avoid provocative dressing
TOPIC TEN: HIV AND AIDS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
These are majorly countries in Africa, Asia and America; leading countries are S. Africa,
Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The least hit countries are Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Algeria.
Factors contributing to high level of HIV in developing countries
1. Unemployment
2. Poverty
3. Inadequete medical facilities, personnel and materials
4. Illiteracy
5. Ignorance
6. Cultural practices and habits
7. Cultural beliefs
8. Drugs and substance abuse

Ways of reversing the situation

 Creation of more job opportunities and facilities fro both private and public
sectors
 Encourage self employment
 Government and private sectors, should provide medical facilities and materials
 Educational activities should be expanded
 Organize educational forum to address HIV/AIDS to the public i.e. awareness
creation
 Discourage and disband cultural practices and habits that contribute to the spread
of HIV.
 Open up recreational facilities to absorb our energies
 Initiate rules, regulations and modalities of addressing drug and substance abuse
e.g. NACADA
 Guidance and counseling among youths
 Women empowerment
 International support increment
 Community involvement in prevention and control
TOPIC ELEVEN: GROUPS MOST AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS
Groups mostly affected are
 The youth especially between 14-35 years of age
 The forces
 The medical personnel
 Farm workers
 Teachers
 Long distance truck drivers and conductors
 Fishermen
 Barmaids and hotel attendants
 Commercial sex workers
 Street children
 Orphaned girl child
Factors contributing to the high vulnerability of these groups
1. Peer pressure
2. Drugs
3. Permissiveness in the society
4. Westernization especially through media
5. Low income and high income
6. Physical separation and nature of work
7. Mode of dressing
8. Decline cultures
TOPIC TWELVE : HIV/AIDS COUNSELING

Counseling can be defined as a consolation, discussion, deliberation, exchange of ideas, advice,

or process of decision making. It’s a service designed to help an individual analyse himself by
relating his capabilities, achievements, interests and modes of adjustment to what new decision
he has made or has to make.

Counselling is defined as a helping relationship between a trained counsellor and a client, in

which a trusting relationship and the skills of a counselor help the client understand his/ her
problems better and decide how best to solve the problems.

Counseling involves helping people to address specific problems that are troubling them. It
involves helping people to develop different and more positive ways of coping with life. People
seek counseling for various reasons;-

(i) Emotional distress and loneliness.

(ii) Marital or other relationship problems.
(iii) Stress
(iv) Anxiety
(v) Disturbing thoughts are as a result of past experience (Trauma)

Counseling is a series of direct contacts with the individual, which aims to offer assistance in
changing attitude and behaviour. It’s an interactive process conjoining the counselee, who is
vulnerable and who needs assistance, and the counsellor who is trained and educated to give this
assistance, the goal of which is to help the counselee learn to deal more effectively with himself
and the reality of his environment.

It’s a process in which the counsellor assists the counselee to make interpretations of facts,
relating to a choice, plan or adjustments which he needs to make. The counsellor-counselee
relationship is characterized by warmth, responsiveness and understanding.

Counseling is not;

(i) Giving information

(ii) Giving advice, making suggestions and recommendations.
(iii) Influencing the client’s values, attitude beliefs, interests, decisions, with or without
any threat or admonition.
(iv) Interviewing clients.
HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing

Encourages individuals to learn their HIV status, reduce HIV risks and provides them with
appropriate linkages to care, treatment and support services. There are several models of HIV
counseling and testing that are used in different settings;

 Voluntary HIV counselling and Testing (VCT) – give clients an opportunity to

confidentiality explore their HIV risks and to learn their HIV tests result. VCT services
can be provided in free standing sites or imbedded within other facilities e.g. health
centers, work place settings and military facilities.
The target audience is individuals who are interested in knowing their HIV status and
learning how to reduce their risks. The focus of the counselling sessions is on risk
assessment, risk reduction, partner referral and linkages to care, treatment and support.
 Couple’s HIV counseling and Testing (CHCT) – allow sexual partners to learn their HIV
status together as a unit. Its offered at VCT sites but may also be offered in other settings
e.g. prenatal clinics. It’s an important intervention because 30% of high HIV prevalence
countries and serodiscordant, or have one partner who is infected with HIV and one who
is not. Counseling session focus on discussing risks issues and concerns risk reduction
and linkages to care, treatment and support.
 Provider –initiated HIV Counseling and Testing – takes place in clinical settings e.g.
medical wards, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infection clinics, for the purpose of
HIV diagnosis and clinical care management. Pre and post-test counselling sessions focus
on recommending and offering the HIV test, obtaining informed consent, using the test
results to make medical care decisions or recommendations and providing appropriate
referrals.
 Counseling and Testing for Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) –
Occurs in prenatal and labour and delivery settings for the purpose of learning a pregnant
woman’s HIV status, and if necessary, providing a PMTCT interventions. Pre and post-
test counseling sessions focus on recommending and offering HIV test, obtaining
informed consent, using the result to make decisions about PMTCT, and providing
appropriate referrals for follow-up care, treatment and support.

The on-going counselling (page. 160)

 It’s also referred to as psychosocial support. It addresses the ongoing psychological and
social problem of HIV infected individuals, their partners, families and caregivers.
  It’s important because;
- HIV infection affects all dimensions of a person’s life; physical, psychological,
social and spiritual. Counseling and social support can help people and their
careers cope more effectively with each stage of the infection and enhances
quality of life. With adequate support, people living with HIV/AIDS are more
likely to be able to response adequately to the stress of being infected and are less
likely to develop serious mental health problems.
- HIV infection often results in stigma and fear for those living with the infection as
well as for those caring for them and may affect the entire family. Infection often
results in loss of socio-economic status, employment, income, housing, healthcare
and mobility. For both individuals and their partners and families, psychosocial
support can assist people in making informed decisions, copying better with
illness and dealing more effectively with discrimination. It improves the quality of
their lives, and prevents further transmission of HIV infection.

Purposes – For people with HIV/AIDS who must adhere to TB treatment or antiretroviral
therapy on-going counseling can be critical in enhancing adherence to treatment regimes.

How is it done /Developing Guidelines

 Psychosocial support should be specifically included in national guidelines for the

management of HIV/AIDS.
 Training and psychosocial support should be incorporated in the curriculum for all health
care providers.
 Guidelines for homecare services can be developed and should include the provisions of
basic psychosocial care by community volunteers and family caregivers.
 Training courses for community volunteers can be organized and provided by health care
workers.
 Training in professional disciplines (counselling, psychology, psychiatry) can be made
available at the national and international level.
 Strategies for providing psychosocial support can be developed for specific groups e.g.
women, youth and men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, health care workers
etc.

Services for HIV infected people, family members and health workers.
  Assess what mental health and supportive services are available at both the governmental
and non-governmental level that could be strengthened or replicated. Assess what
additional services are needed.
 At the community level, groups can be started to provide for the needs of individual
patients, and affected family members. Psychosocial support services that address the
specific needs of vulnerable groups can be specially important e.g. women, children e.t.c
 A comprehensive support system linking and coordinating existing psychosocial services
with each other and to health services needs to be established.
 If the hospital or clinic level, groups for healthcare workers in high HIV prevalence areas
will be important for the support of nurses, physicians and other healthcare personnel
who may be seeing large numbers of HIV infected patients. Supervision of healthcare
workers will be key in assisting health workers to cope with issues related to HIV/AIDS.
 Peer group (whether of health workers working under stressful conditions, people living
with HIV/AIDS or family members of people with HIV/AIDS can be a very effective
way of providing psychosocial support).
 A comprehensive support system linking and coordinating existing psychosocial services
with each other and to health services thus maximizing all resources needs to be set up.
 Building community capacities to provide counseling and support will ensure
sustainability, continuity of interventions and community development.

Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT)

 Plays a key role in HIV-related prevention and care. It’s important as a starting point for
the access of other HIV/AIDS related services.
 The knowledge of your HIV status can help a person to stay healthy for longer, as well as
preventing new infections.
 VCT provides benefit to those who test negative, it may result in a change of behavior.

Advantages of rapid testing;

 The personnel involved with rapid testing do not have to be fully qualified health care
workers. Rapid testing can be performed by someone with basic health care training e.g.
knowing how to draw blood and how to use the testing kit.
 There are no complicated storage requirements for some of the rapid tests and this has
expanded the sites where they can be used. For example, rapid testing can be provided in
a building without electricity.
  Before rapid testing was available, people led to visit a testing site and then wait for
several days before coming back for their test results with rapid testing people can wait
and have their result within an hour and this removes the problem of people not returning
to get their test results.
 Basic counselling services can be offered by training ‘lay counselors’ from the
community.

COUNSELING

 HIV/AIDS counseling is a relationship between patients and the counsellors with the
aims of preventing transmission of HIV infection and providing psychosocial support to
those already affected. It also provides support to the families of infected people.
 Counselling seeks to help infected people make decisions about their life, boost their self-
confidence, improve relationship and quality of life.
 For people with HIV infection, infection and social adjustment involves lifelong stress
management and adaptation.
 For members of society at risk, counseling is essentially educative with a knowledge of
all aspects of the infection, providing the necessary impetus for behavior change with a
view of protecting themselves from acquiring the infection.

FEMALE VULNERABILITY

 Dramatic increase in adolescent females engaging in pre-marital sexual intercourse.

 Young women having different sexual partners.
 Rape (gang rape).
 Early marriage
 Young girls get married to older men who belief that they are less likely to have HIV.
40% of men over 35 years are HIV positive.
 Many girls and women are forced into unwanted sexual relations to get on in school or
business and to pay favours to teachers and bosses, thus acquiring HIV in the process.
 Female circumcision – use of shared knives.

The various forms of circumcision led to;-

 An abnormal anatomy with anatomical distortion.

  Partial disclosure of the vagina.
 Incomplete healing
 Scar tissue formation which may be excessive.
 Urinary tract infections.
 Inflammation of the genital area.
 Chronic urinary retention.

Aims of Pretesting Counseling

1. Give the patient the time, opportunityand information to understand the implications of
the test.
2. Explore the underlying reasons for the test.
3. Provide risk reduction information by discussing the facts about HIV transmission and
how risk of acquiring or transmitting the infection can be reduced.
4. Prepare the individual for a possible positive test and explore coping and support services
for an individual who may be HIV-Positive.
5. Respond to the personal and individual needs and requirements of the clients.
6. Gain the trust of the individual that the test result will be kept confidential.

Post-Test Counselling

Post-test counselling revolves around the communication of test results. This may be matter of
life and death for the patient if done incorrectly. People who are informed that they are HIV
positive go through a series of recognizable emotional reactions. These includes shock, anger,
guilt, loss of identity, feelings of insecurity, fear, sadness, depression and even relief.

With support and counselling, individuals come to terms with their status and move on to focus
on living rather than dying. This is the ultimate goal of post-test counselling.

Counselling HIV/AIDS patients should include various health education and information as well
as fact finding. The counsellor can start with the natural history of the disease and what the
patient might expect in future. This is vital to establish clear facts and remove misconceptions.
The patient needs to be taught how to communicate the news to family and friends.

The health worker also needs to determine the personal resources of the patient, family, friends,
employers, finances that may be used for treatment; this prevents distress and helps the patient
plan a future with practical limits. It is also important to discuss sex and sexual relations.
More notes on pre-testing, post-testing and ongoing counseling

Pre- testing counseling

This is counseling done before HIV test is carried out; usually the person is not known whether
he/she is positive or not.
This counseling is to set the situation by helping the individual to understand and to cope with
the testing. It is through called Test preparation counseling.
Post testing counseling
This is counseling that is done after the completion or testing exercise. It may take 2 forms:-
 Before the result is revealed to the client
 After the revelation of the result
The intent and the purpose is to; provide a coping strategy for the client whether positive or
negative.
Ongoing counseling
Is the continuous counseling process that is carried out fro those who have undergone a testing
exercise whether they are positive or negative.
For those who are positive, the counseling exercise is meant to retain the status quo and to
advocate and lobby for behaviour change.
The person can become an agent of change.
For those who are negative, the ongoing counseling is meant to achieve the following
1. Safe and responsible sexual behaviour
2. Couple counseling and its perceived benefits
3. Behaviour change process
TOPIC THIRTEEN: ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS IN FIGHTING AGAINST HIV AND
AIDS
Identification of stakeholders
1. Government of Kenya
2. Development and intervention partners
3. The community
4. CBOs and NGOs
5. Private sectors
6. Religious based organizations
7. People living with AIDS/individuals
The role of stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Role of the Government
1. Provision of funds and other resources
2. Training of personnel
3. Providing leadership and political goodwill in the fight against HIV and AIDS
4. Provision of testing and counseling services for those who want to know their status
5. Has provided an enabling environment which is conducive enough for all the other
stakeholders to carry out activities in the fight against HIV
6. Provision of information materials to the community (awareness creation)
7. Controlling the conduct of HIV activities through registration and licensing of other players
8. Provision of drugs and other medical services to those who are infected
9. Establishment of National AIDS control council (NACC)
10. Provision of free education and bursaries for orphans
11. Providing a legal framework that is friendly to those fighting HIV but deterrent to those who
may want deliberately infect others
Role of NGOs
1. Provision of funds
2. Training and education
3. Yielding of new innovative strategies like Home Based Care (HBC)
4. Provision of drugs and other services needed by those infected and their families
5. Caring for socio-economic needs of the infected and affected
6. Establishment of care centres for those who are infected / orphans caring centers, initiation of
IGAS for the infected and affected, VCT centres to enable community to know their status
7. Advocating on behalf of those infected, the affected and generally all the community members
8. Strengthening the capacities of the communities in fighting against the scourge.
Roles of religious based organizations or faith based organizations (RBOs / FBOs)
1. They are primarily healing organizations for the infected individuals
2. They help in disseminating information
3. They have a rich network in the grassroots/community level thus enabling them to effectively
implement/execute many projects
4. They exert much needed influence on the infected and the affected
5. They offer health and education services apart from spiritual well being
6. RBOs also run VCT centres
7. They lay emphasis on abstinence and faithfulness
8. Training and dissemination of information
9. They undertake advocacy and lobbying on behalf of the vulnerable members of the
communities – orphans, widows and widowers made so by HIV and AIDS
10. Some provide funds especially from their mother in the western world
11. It has also provided common agenda for religious organizations
Roles of the private sectors and employers
1. Running and funding ARVs programmes fro their workers for the purpose of managing those
already infected
2. Starting preventive units fro purposes of educating their staff hence protecting those who are
not yet infected
3. Providing help to workers dependants especially defraying medical costs by also starting
Medicare
4. Running training programmes fro their workers
5. Provision of funds and other provisions to NGOs and CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS activities