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LETS AID OURSELVES
OF AIDS
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SOCIAL CARING
SOCIAL CARING
THEY ARE A PART OF US:
- Doctors are getting better at treating the
illnesses that are caused by HIV infection.
Many people now consider HIV infection
a manageable, long-term illness.
- Inform your sexual partner(s) about their possible
risk for HIV. Your health department has
a partner notification program that can
assist you.
- Infants and children with HIV infection or AIDS
need the same things as other children-
lots of love and affection, and go to
school. Kids with HIV are still kids, and
need to be treated like any other kids
in the family.
- HIV transmission is associated with specific
risk-taking behaviours. These behavio-
urs are influenced by personal and so-
cietal factors that determine people’s
vulnerability to infection.To be effective,
risk-reduction programmes must be de-
signed and implemented in synergy with
other programmes.
- Medical science is confident about these
basic facts: You can't get HIV or AIDS
from touching someone, sharing items
such as cups or pencils, or coughing
or sneezing. HIV is not spread through
routine contact in restaurants, workpla-
ces, or schools.
- Seek support from trustworthy friends and
family when possible, and consider
getting professional counseling.Find
a support group of people who are
going through similar experiences.
- Do not donate blood, plasma, semen,body
organs, or other tissue.
- There has never been any danger of bec-
oming infected with HIV from donating
blood.
- Recent gains in HIV medical care and
treatment have increased the benefit
of learning whether you have HIV
infection even before symptoms of
illness appear. Also, if you are pla-
nning a pregnancy, you and your
partner may want to know if either of
you are infected before conceiving.
- Someone with AIDS can eat almost anything
they want; in fact, the more the better.
A well-balanced diet with plenty of
nutrients, fiber, and liquids is healthy
for everybody.
- You don't get HIV from feces, nasal fluid,
saliva, sweat, tears, urine, or vomit,
unless these have blood mixed in
them. You can help people with HIV
eat, dress, even bathe, without bec-
oming infected yourself.
- If you are sick and nobody else can do
what needs to be done for the person
with AIDS, wear a well-fitting, surgical
-type mask that covers your mouth and
nose and wash your hands before
coming near the person with AIDS.
- Use disposable, hospital-type latex or
vinyl gloves to take care of the person
with AIDS if there is any blood you
might touch. Use these gloves one
time, then throw them away. Do not
use latex gloves more than one time
even if they are marked "reusable."
- If you get stuck with a needle used on
the person with AIDS, don't panic.
The chances are very good (better
than 99%) that you will not be
infected. However, you need to
act quickly to get medical care.
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