The district health authorities are launching a week- long awareness drive in the villages to mark the World AIDS Day to be observed on December 1.
“We are trying to rid those afflicted with AIDS of the fear of the people and to go for the tests for HIV. With the treatment undertaken by the patient, his life span increases,” said the deputy CMO Haridwar Dr H D Shakya. “Earlier, such people were shunned by their family members and friends.
But over the years things have improved,” added Shakya. “However, still there is a need to create awareness and bust myths to prevent stigmatisation of such individuals as well as their families. The district hospital holds awareness seminars on the Worlds AIDS Day and pamphlets on prevention of diseases are distributed among the locals throughout the week,” said the doctor.
“Care must be taken not to let the HIV-infected person be in any kind of psychological stress. It generally adds mental health problems. When one’s immune system is damaged by HIV some infections tend to easily affect the nervous system. Here comes the role of relaxation techniques like Yog Nidra and meditation.
Guided meditation and Yog Nidra with sleep induced from music is the best way to relax the patient,” said an Ayurvedic expert Sunil Joshi.
Secretary, Association of Physicians of India, Uttarakhand, Dr Sanjay Shah said that the Government is providing free tests and medicines through national AIDS control organisation (NACO) to all the HIV positive patients. “Anti-Retrovirus treatment (ART) stops HIV from replicating. The main aim is to reduce your viral load to an undetectable level. As the viral load goes down, immune system starts repairing and CD4 count goes up,” he said.
There are many misconceptions about HIV and AIDS which must be removed that virus cannot be transmitted from shaking hands, hugging, casual kissing, sneezing, touching unbroken skin, using the same toilet, sharing towels, sharing cutlery, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or other forms of casual contact, he said.
Another doctor who treats the dreaded disease said that HIV can spread by having unprotected sex, from sharing sex toys with someone infected with HIV. “Condoms should be used with every sexual act. Sharing intravenous needles can expose users to HIV. This is why the medical staff needs to be cautious.
Besides, the HIV-infected mothers should not breastfeed. Moreover, health education is an important factor in reducing AIDS,” he said.
Last year, one million people had died from HIV-related causes globally, says a study. World Health Organisation advocates for access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines, including diagnostics and health care services, for all the people in need.
Condom promotion programmes by the State authorities and access to safe blood are the ways in which AIDS can be prevented.
Two decades before, HIV was highly stigmatised. A symbol was thus thought of to create awareness and expressing solidarity with AIDS patients. The universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV-the red ribbon-is gaining wider acceptance across the world and the people who are engaged in the movement against AIDS stigmatisation and the like wear it on their persons to raise awareness among the people, particularly in the run-up to and on the World AIDS Day.
