|
Christian Conference of Asia
|
About CCA
Program Clusters: Special Programs:
|
Frequently Asked Questions on HIV and AIDSFrequently Asked Questions on HIV and AIDS
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Syndrome means a group of symptoms or illnesses associated with a severely damaged or deficient immune system making the body unable to fight opportunistic infections. Bacteria and other microbes take the opportunity to thrive where the immune system is damaged. As the body loses the capacity to fight diseases, anyone or more of the opportunistic infections like severe diarrhea, pneumonia, tuberculosis, brain infections, and cancer like Kaposi's sarcoma can cause severe loss of weight and deterioration of health condition.
A person is said to be living with AIDS if he or she is HIV positive and has one or both of these conditions (Center for Disease Control criteria):
1. Experienced one or more AIDS-related infections or illnesses such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, herpes, or cancer 2. The number of CD4 cells has reached or fallen below 200 cubic microliter of blood
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) belongs to a class of viruses called retroviruses. HIV destroys the body's immune or defense system.
HIV attacks a particular type of white blood cell, called the CD4 lymphocytes, a particular T-cell subtype, which normally protects the body against infections. Normally the virus has an envelope or outer coat but HIV sheds off the envelope before entering the CD4 cell. HIV is not recognized as a foreign organism and is accepted by the CD4 cell. HIV inserts its own reproductive material into the cell and selectively destroys it. When the CD4 cells are destroyed large numbers of virus particles are released into the blood stream. This process is repeated in even more CD4 cells, gradually depleting the number of CD4 cells in the body. The normal CD4 cell count is usually between 600 and 1,800 per cubic ml. of blood. When the count drops to 500, the person begins to suffer from minor infections. When it falls below 200, signs and symptoms of AIDS appear.
The following may be warning signs of infection with HIV: flu-like symptoms which may include fevers, fatigue, rashes, sore joints, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. During primary infection, HIV makes its way to the lymph nodes. This may take 3-5 days. HIV actively reproduces and releases new viruses into the blood stream. This usually lasts 2-3 months. The immune system begins to react to form antibodies. An HIV test would confirm that a person is living with HIV.
The person living with HIV may continue being asymptomatic for several years. As the immune system continues to break down, other illnesses may manifest such as respiratory tract infections, occasional fevers, skin irritations and rashes, fungal infections, thrush/candidiasis (white eruptions in the mouth, throat and tongue), and herpes blisters in the mouth or on the genitals. This is called the symptomatic stage.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is present in the blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk and other body fluids containing blood. The virus is passed on from one infected person's body fluids into another person.
HIV can be sexually transmitted by having unprotected intercourse (without using female or male condom) as the virus can enter the body during sexual activity through the mucous membranes of the vagina, penis (urethra), anus or mouth, through sharing needles or body piercing equipment, transfusion of infected blood, parent-to-child transmission (during pregnancy, during the birth of the baby as the baby passes the birth canal, and during breastfeeding).
Women are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection because of the larger mucosal area in the genitalia that can be exposed to the virus. Men's semen contains greater amount of virus compared to vaginal secretions. Male to female transmission of HIV is 3-4 times more efficient than female to male transmission.
Risk of infection through sexual intercourse increases in the following conditions: · If either person has a sexually transmitted infection (STI), especially those with ulcerative lesion, because the disease often cause breaks in the genital mucosa; · Rape could cause bleeding due to tear in the genital mucosa; · Sexual intercourse with young girls makes them vulnerable because of immature cervix, skin that is more easily broken and relatively low vaginal mucus production; · Sexual intercourse with a circumcised female especially those whose genitalia have been mutilated could lead to bleeding; · Anal and oral intercourse by heterosexual couples and men who have sex with men (MSM); · Unspoken tolerance of men engaging in extramarital affairs put faithful women at risk; · Refusal by an HIV infected person to use a protective mechanism such as condom due to religious reason or for personal pleasure. Even if both are living with HIV, it is better to use condom to prevent transmission of different strains of the virus.
HIV cannot be transmitted by sharing the common cup during Holy Communion, working alongside people living with HIV, sharing the same telephone, sharing food and drinks, sharing clothing, using second-hand clothes, contact with a toilet seat, swimming, insect bites like bed bugs or mosquito or animal bites, ordinary social kissing, hugging, shaking hands, massage.
What do we mean by safer sex practices?
Safer sex practices are those sexual practices which reduce the risk of transmitting HIV during sexual activity. It means not coming in direct contact with another person's infected blood, semen or vaginal fluids. Intercourse when neither partner is HIV infected is safe but the difficulty lies on being 100% sure both are really free of infection. Latex condom provides good protection against infection and pregnancy, but they are not 100% reliable. Hugging, kissing, massaging, petting and masturbating are safe but a person is at risk if these activities end up being foreplay to unprotected sex.
Is there a cure for HIV and AIDS?
There is still no cure for HIV. One is definitely not cured by having sex with a virgin. This is a myth.
Treatment with anti-retroviral drug (ARV/ART) can reduce the rate at which the virus multiplies in the body, thereby decreasing the viral load, slow down the rate at which the disease progresses, restore the functioning of the immune system, make the person less infectious, thus reducing the transmission of HIV.
A combination of 3-5 drugs (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy or HAART) taken at the right doses and right times is beneficial. HIV mutates or changes the structure of the virus and may become resistant to the drug if the treatment regimen is not strictly followed.
Alternative medicines and local wisdom, which are very connected to spirituality and environment, does increase the well-being of positive people but should not be mistaken as cure. Prayers strengthen one's relation with God and create a space for living positively. Other supportive measures are good nutrition, education, and monitoring of CD4 counts every 3-6 months.
Visiting people living with HIV and AIDS in their homes and developing a support group in the Church to provide care for people living with HIV are important component of the Church's healing ministry. Giving people living with HIV and AIDS the opportunity to participate meaningfully in Church life, as part of the body of Christ will strengthen the whole congregation's ministry or participation in God's mission. This will also contribute in enabling people with HIV to live positively.
People living with HIV and AIDS can give their testimony and witness and thus, make prevention work more authentic or real. They can serve as counselors. Church people have much to learn from people living with HIV and AIDS.
Is there a vaccine to prevent HIV?
There is no vaccine to prevent HIV. There are clinical trials going on but it may take years before a vaccine is discovered.
Who is Vulnerable to HIV and AIDS?
Everyone is vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. Social vulnerabilities and factors that drive the HIV epidemic are: poverty and social instability that result in family disruption, high levels of other sexually transmitted infections, the low status of women, orphaned and other vulnerable children, human rights violations, ineffective leadership during critical periods in the spread of HIV, low literacy, urbanization, imprisonment, migration and separation from family, lack of access to health care, and sexual violence. Sexual violence includes high incidence of forced sexual intercourse by male partners and poor negotiations on condom use.
Who are more at risk in contracting HIV?
People more at risk than others in contracting HIV are migrant male workers (such as truck drivers, laborers) and their wives, sexual networking, sex workers, those who engage in unprotected sex especially in anal intercourse, injecting drug users, alcohol users. For example, sex workers voice difficulty in accessing health services because they have no official identification which recognize their condition. Moreover, there are countries that criminalize sex workers and do not provide support against violence committed against women.
What is the impact of HIV and AIDS?
When a member of a family is living with HIV and AIDS, the whole family is affected. Children are orphaned and families are taken care of by children or old people, usually by one of the grandparents. Children drop out of school or are excluded from basic services. AIDS creates extraordinary care needs that must be met, withdrawing another household member from school to work to care for the sick. A mother living with HIV finds it difficult not to be able to breastfeed her baby. In some Asian societies where women have no choice, women suffer from rejection and blame.
Household expenditures rise as a result of medical and related costs, as well as funeral and memorial costs. The whole community is affected as they begin to lose the productive members of the community – farmers, agricultural workers, migrant workers, industrial workers, truck drivers, construction workers, health professionals, community workers, teachers, religious leaders, traders, maintenance workers, homemakers. Hospitals are overburdened because of the number of persons being treated for opportunistic infections. The economy suffers. Development work is affected. It could make or break communities depending on the responses of the people.
Communities have varied responses to people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Information, education and communication (IEC) on the facts and fiction of HIV and AIDS are important to change the attitudes of the people and to prevent the spread of HIV. Issues on stigma, discrimination, exclusion and human rights violations need to be addressed by all sectors. Religious leaders in faith communities can help shape a positive response to HIV and AIDS.
It is important to note that for two decades now, people living with HIV and AIDS are creating new hope for living a meaningful life as they begin to accept their HIV positive status. Many have established AIDS support group such as the Global Network for Positive People (GNP+), the Thai Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS, Lanka Plus in Sri Lanka, the Indian Network of Positive People (INP+), Pak Plus Society in Pakistan, and Positive Plus in the Philippines. The most recent organization is the International Network of Religious Leaders living with/Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+). The first organizational meeting was held in Nagpur, India in November 2008.
There are also interfaith communities that have organized themselves for better collective actions. The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) helped in the organization of the Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA) on May 7, 2005.
There are also movements that address HIV and AIDS from a rights-based perspective. The Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) is beginning to explore the links of tourism and HIV and AIDS.
What are the roles of Religious and Faith Leaders?
Faith leaders have the spiritual influence and mandate to care for the spiritual life of their communities and serve the needs of the people. Faith leaders are present in local communities and are deeply rooted in the historical, social and cultural environment. They have the respect and trust of their communities as well as the moral and ethical know how to influence individuals and communities to choose the path that leads to meaningful life and relationships. They can inspire their faith communities. Faith leaders run Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs). They have hospitals, clinics, school, day care centers and nurseries, orphanages and developmental programs. Long term commitments are necessary to respond comprehensively to the challenges of HIV and AIDS. FBOs have a proven track record on sustainability through continuous presence in human communities for centuries.
What are the useful resources to enable us to learn more about HIV and AIDS?
World Council of Churches
Facing AIDS: The Challenge, The Churches' Response. Geneva. 1997. Companion document: Facing AIDS: Education in the Context of Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS – four modules: Community, Change, Vulnerability, Care and Prevention. Geneva. 1997.
The Lutheran World Federation
Grace, Care and Justice: A Handbook for HIV and AIDS work. Switzerland. 2007. The handbook has been translated into other languages. For copies, contact sni@lutheranworld.org
Mission 21 – protestant mission basel, United Evangelical Mission and The Lutheran World Federation published:
Hedrich, Ute, et al. God breaks the Silence: Preaching in Times of Aids. Germany: Medienhaus Pumb GmbH, Rheinbreitbach. 2005.
Mailing address:
The Lutheran World Federation Department for Mission and Development 150 rte. de Ferney PO Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, a broad ecumenical network giving one voice against injustice, to confront structures of power, practices and attitudes, which deprive human beings of dignity and to offer alternative voices based on the Gospel. You can order for CD-ROM on Christian Responses on HIV and AIDS.
Lux, Steven and Greenaway, Kristine. Scaling Up Effective Partnerships; A guide to working with faith-based organizations in the response to HIV and AIDS. Oxford (UK): Seacourt Limited. 2006.
Mailing Address:
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance 150 rte. de Ferney CH-1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland
Useful web links
UNAIDS www.UNAIDS.ORG World Health Organization www.WHO.INT/HIV/FACTS/EN Christian Conference of Asia www.cca.org.hk
Please send your questions or comments to:
Dr. Erlinda N. Senturias Consultant on HIV and AIDS Christian Conference of Asia c/o Payap University Muang, Chiang Mai 50000 Thailand
Email:
Home Office: Paradise Farm and Forest Park Barangay Payong-Payong Pigkawayan 9421 North Cotabato Philippines posted by CCA HIV and AIDS Ministry on 9:53 PM |
| Archives: |
|
February 2009 /
July 2009 /
August 2009 /
December 2009 /
August 2011 /
September 2011 /
November 2011 /
December 2011 /
July 2012 /
December 2012 /
|
