Even those
with HIV/AIDS have the right to good health
More efforts are needed to combat this
disease entirely by 2030
New Delhi, 01 December 2017: By the end of last year, there were 2.1
million people living with HIV, with new infections falling to 80,000 in 2016
from 150,000 in 2005. Of these, 9,100 infected were
children under age 15 years. Although there has been a registered 20% annual
decline in new infections over the past few years, more efforts are required to
completely combat the disease by the year 2030. There is a need to create
awareness about the fact that everyone with AIDS must be accorded treatment at
the right time to help them achieve good health.
This year,
the theme for World AIDS Day is “Right to Health”. The WHO will highlight the
need for all 36.7 million people living with the condition, to reach the goal
of universal health coverage by 2030.HIV is a condition which targets the
immune system and weakens people’s defence systems against infections and some
types of cancer. The virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells,
thus gradually making infected individuals become immunodeficient.
Speaking
about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian
Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI)
and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said,
"HIV/AIDS continues to affect the Indian population despite various mass
awareness campaigns, availability of various state-of-the-art medical
interventions, and evolving technology. A large part of this is also due to the
social stigma that our society has associated with the disease. This is also
one reason why people avoid routine checkups. There is an urgent need to
educate the masses about the various disease prevention measures along with the
fact that people with HIV can live a normal life. The government and various
healthcare associations must also ensure the availability of condoms in smaller
cities and towns where the disease is more rampant.”
HIV and AIDS
are different terms. HIV or Human immunodeficiency virus attacks and destroys
white blood cells or T Lymphocytes in the immune system making the body prone
to all types of diseases. AIDS, on the other hand, is a condition, which
develops in the advanced stages of HIV infection due to a weak immune system.
Adding
further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “HIV can spread from an infected woman to
her child during pregnancy and childbirth. It can also be passed from a mother
to her child through breastfeeding.All pregnant mothers should get HIV test
done.Antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be started at the earliest to prevent
HIV transmission to sexual or drug using partner/s or from the mother to the
infant during pregnancy or breastfeeding.”
Here are
some other facts about the disease.
- ABC for safe sex: Abstain, Be faithful to your partner and if you cannot, use Condoms.
- Drinking alcohol or taking drugs interferes with judgment. Even those who understand the risks of AIDS and the importance of safer sex may become careless after drinking or using drugs.
- People with STIs should seek prompt treatment and avoid sexual intercourse or practice safe sex.
- Used infected razor blades, knives or tools that cut or pierce the skin also carry some risk of spreading HIV.
- HIV-positive people may remain asymptomatic but can still pass on the virus to others.
