HIV/AIDS II – SS1 Civic Education Lesson Note (First Term)

HIV/AIDS is prevented by avoiding contact with infected blood and body fluids, practising safe and disciplined sexual behaviour, and testing early.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the preventive measures of HIV/AIDS;
2. explain what stigmatisation of PLWHA means and state its effects;
3. list ways of managing HIV/AIDS;
4. describe how to care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

What do HIV, AIDS and PLWHA mean?

HIV is the virus that weakens the body’s defence system, and AIDS is the condition that develops when that system is badly damaged.

• HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that attacks the body’s immune system.
• AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, the late stage of HIV infection.
• PLWHA: People Living with HIV/AIDS.
• ART: Anti-Retroviral Therapy, drugs that control the virus in the body.
• VCT: Voluntary Counselling and Testing, where a person is counselled and tested for HIV by choice.
• STI: Sexually Transmitted Infection.

What are the preventive measures of HIV/AIDS?

There are eight groups of preventive measures: safe blood and equipment, safe sexual behaviour, protecting babies, testing and treatment, drug-related measures, education, protection for health workers, and government action.

1. Safe blood and equipment

• Sterilised equipment: supply sterilised needles, syringes and other equipment to hospitals.
• Safe disposal: destroy used needles, syringes and other equipment.
• Blood screening: screen all donated blood carefully before transfusion.
• Body fluids: avoid contact with infected body fluids such as blood.
• Sharp objects: do not share razor blades, knives, needles, syringes, clippers and other piercing or cutting objects.

2. Safe sexual behaviour

• Avoid risky sex: avoid unprotected or indiscriminate sexual contact and relationships.
• Condom use: always use a condom in a casual sexual relationship. It lowers the risk but is not 100% safe.
• Self-control: keep personal discipline to uphold moral integrity.

3. Protecting babies

• Testing pregnant women: test pregnant women for HIV and treat them if necessary.
• Aim: this prevents mother-to-child transmission.

4. Testing and treatment

• VCT: promote Voluntary Counselling and Testing so that people know their HIV status.
• Regular tests: individuals and married couples should test constantly and periodically.
• ART and rehabilitation: refer people for drug treatment, ART and rehabilitation.
• Opportunistic infections: treat infections that take advantage of a weak immune system, for example STIs.

5. Drug-related measures

• Treatment facilities: set up and run drug treatment facilities.
• Substitution therapy: set up drug substitution therapy programmes.

6. Education and awareness

• School programmes: teach sex, STI and HIV/AIDS education in schools.
• Other routes: create awareness about other ways HIV can be transmitted.
• Dangers: educate people on the dangers of contracting the disease.

7. Protection for health workers and carers

• Safe treatment: medical personnel should use adequate protection when treating HIV/AIDS patients.
• Gloves: wear rubber or nylon hand gloves when dealing with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.

8. Government action

• Mobile outreach centres: set up centres for the most at-risk and vulnerable people.
• Jobs: provide job opportunities so that people stay away from illicit and immoral activities.

What is stigmatisation of PLWHA?

Stigmatisation of PLWHA is the assignment of negative perceptions to people living with HIV because of the perceived threat of the disease.

• Stigma: any attribute that is deeply discrediting and reduces a person or group “from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one”.
• Discrimination: unfair treatment of a person because of their HIV status.
• Background: stigma and discrimination have been hallmarks of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

What are the effects of stigmatisation?

• Delayed treatment: PLWHA delay or fail to seek treatment.
• Late diagnosis: high-risk people delay testing, so diagnosis comes late.
• Loss of rights: PLWHA may be denied their rights to health, education and employment.

What are the ways to manage HIV/AIDS?

HIV/AIDS is managed by taking ART drugs, living healthily and receiving social and medical support.

What can the infected person do?

• ART: take the recommended Anti-Retroviral Therapy drugs as and when due.
• Diet: eat a balanced diet.
• Attitude: stay positive about survival.
• Exercise: engage in productive exercises.
• Early testing: test early to know one’s HIV status.
• Counselling: go for regular medical counselling.

What can society and government do?

• End stigma: discourage stigmatisation of PLWHA.
• Lower costs: subsidise the cost of treatment.
• Jobs: give employment to PLWHA.
• Mass media: create awareness on managing HIV/AIDS through radio, television and newspapers.
• Schools: teach sex and HIV/AIDS education.

How can we care for people with HIV/AIDS?

We care for PLWHA by giving them love, respect, good food, emotional support and access to treatment.

• Love and respect: show love, respect and support.
• Facts: know the facts about HIV/AIDS and talk openly about the disease.
• Less stress: help to reduce stress and stressful situations.
• Good food: help to provide balanced and nutritious meals.
• Treatment: encourage them to get treatment when sick. Many infections can be treated, even if a person is HIV positive.

Which everyday contacts do not spread HIV?

• Touch: handshakes, hugs and sitting together do not spread HIV.
• Shared items: sharing plates, cups and toilets does not spread HIV.
• Mosquitoes: mosquito bites do not spread HIV.

Evaluation

1. State five preventive measures of HIV/AIDS.
2. What is stigma? Give two effects of stigmatisation of PLWHA.
3. List four ways of managing HIV/AIDS.
4. How can pregnant women avoid mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS?
5. Give one difference between stigma and discrimination.

Assignment

1. List five ways of caring for people living with HIV/AIDS.
2. Explain why people should avoid sharing razor blades, needles and other sharp objects.