MARJHUN B.

LAGUILLES PURPOSSIVE COMMUNICATION SPEECH (PRE-FINILAS)

HIV and AIDS

Good day everyone. I would like to inform you all about HIV, human immunodeficiency
virus, and AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome. What is HIV and AIDS all about? HIV
is RNA virus. HIV-1 is most common worldwide. HIV-2 Restricted to West Africa. The virus has
an enzyme reverse transcriptase which transcribes the RNA genome to double stranded DNA and
is incorporated into host cell. The target for HIV is the CD-4+ Helper T-Cells, which are the
backbone of the immune system. How HIV affects our body? Virus enters the immune cells which
the (CD4 cells), gets integrated to the cell nucleus, replicates inside the cells, ultimate destroys the
immune cells, immunodeficiency and multiple infections. How does HIV can be transmitted to
another person? One, sharing semen and vaginal fluids. That’s why experts recommend us to use
protection or medicines to prevent and treat HIV while having a sexual intercourse, this is the most
common reason why people gets HIV because they having sexual contact between individuals or
different person without use of protection. Two, sharing needles and syringes. The risk for getting
or transmitting HIV is very high if an HIV-negative person uses needles or works after someone
with HIV has used them. This is because the needle or works may have blood in it, and blood
carries HIV. Likewise, you're at risk for getting or transmitting hepatitis B and C if you share
needles and works because these infections are also transmitted through blood. About 1 out of
every 10 HIV diagnoses in the United States is from injection drug use. The average chance that
an HIV-negative person will get HIV from a needle stick when the needle is known to contain
HIV-infected blood is 24 out of 10,000 exposures. Four, through infected blood. Currently, the
risk of contracting HIV after a blood transfusion in the United States is extremely low. In 1995,
the risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection through a blood transfusion was estimated to be between 1
in 450,000 and 1 in 660,000 units of blood. By 2003, this estimated risk decreased to between 1 in
1.4 million and 1 in 1.8 million units of blood. Five, HIV transmission from mother to child during
pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding is called perinatal transmission. Perinatal HIV
transmission is the most common way children are infected with HIV. If a woman is infected with
HIV, her risk of transmitting the virus to her baby is reduced if she stays as healthy as possible.
According to the March of Dimes, new treatments can reduce the risk of a treated mother passing
HIV to her baby to a 2 percent or less chance. Is HIV and AIDS the same thing? No, they're not.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that may eventually cause AIDS (acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome). You can be HIV-positive, meaning you can have the HIV virus in
your body, and not have AIDS. HIV-positive people do not feel sick. HIV attacks certain cells
from your immune system called T Cells. Generally, when person who is HIV positive has a blood
test that reveals that their T cell count blood is under 200, they will be diagnosed with AIDS. Is
HIV curable? No, is treatable but not curable. Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drugs suppress the virus and
improve immune status. However, the patient remains HIV positive for life and can transmit the
disease to others. Why should we get tested or treated if there is no cure? Early diagnosis, early
treatment of opportunistic infection, improved survival, better quality of life and Decreased chance
of transmission of HIV to others. There’s a widely held but false belief or idea associated to HIV.
HIV is not transmitted by mosquito bites or bites of other insects. Not transmitted through casual
every day contact. Not transmitted from contact with non-bloody sweat, tears or urine. HIV can
affect people, children, housewives etc. around you e.g. How can we prevent HIV and AIDS?
Avoid multiple partners – use CONDOMS, use sterile needles each time for injection, never share
needles, avoid unnecessary blood transfusions, never buy blood from professional donors, donate
blood, safe blood saves lives and improves health, and all pregnant women should be tested for
HIV. Use standard work precautions – hand hygiene, personal protective gear, proper disposal of
biomedical waste, Immunization against Hepatitis B and educate ourselves. Take home message
for us, HIV epidemic is spreading from high risk to low risk population if most important factor
for spread is LACK OF KNOWLEDGE so we should get educate ourselves with the right
information. It is associated with social stigma and misconceptions. HIV is a preventable disease,
so TAKE PRECAUTIONS. And HIV is no longer synonymous with death. Maybe my speech is
lacking of some information that you already know but most important is to educate individuals,
share your knowledge and avoid misconceptions or myths that destroys humane of people. Take
the advantage of living to the extent without frightened of doing something. Fred Panopio said
“AIDS doesn’t matter”. It’s only matter if you already in the state of being infected. Thank you
and have a nice day.