WORLD AIDS DAY
03 December 2013
On the eve of World AIDS Day during November 2013 members in O.A. Kysil Students’ scientific society performed some multiformat trainings with pupils of senior forms in schools of city Kyiv.
HIV/AIDS remains one of the most problems in global health care system in modern society. According to WHO data for last three decades this disease took more than 25 millions of human lives. In 2013 there were about 40 millions people with AIDS all over the world.
Every year O.A. Kysil Students’ scientific society performs a complex of educational and scientific events among students, devoted to World AIDS Day. The purpose for performance of these events was to detect the level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS issues, to systematize the knowledge of pupils, to teach with tolerant attitude to HIV-infected.
Multiformat trainings started with acquaintance with schoolchildren and determination of priorities in their life. Most people, being surveyed, defined the health as the main priority. So, the definition for the term “Health” was recreated, the main components and factors that worsen it were reminded. Thus, the problem of HIV/AIDS disease among Ukrainians, especially aged 15-25 years old, came to the fore.
The meetings were held online: the concepts of HIV/AIDS were defined together with pupils, the history of study and prevalence of this disease was considered in details, the acquaintance with life histories of famous and talented people, who fell ill and died from AIDS was performed. The special attention was paid to information about epidemiological HIV/AIDS sickness rate in Ukraine. At present moment the situation was characterized by increase in indices of sickness rate and death rate from AIDS, activation of sexual way for transmission and involvement of women from reproductive age into the process. Ukraine takes the second place in Europe and the fifth one in the world due to HIV/AIDS sickness rate.
In the form of game, which purpose was to inform the participants about ways for HIV transmission, the pupils one by one expressed their opinions about degree of risk for HIV-infection. During the game there arose the disputable opinions or even situations when no pupil knew the correct answer. They together considered and corrected the knowledge about main laws for HIV transmission: ways, conditions, concentrations of virus in liquids, organs, through which the infection is carried our, and risk for HIV transmission.
Schoolchildren received the main information about methods and HIV/AIDS diagnostic centers, ways to prevent the prevalence of infection. Pupils took an active part in discussion of their attitude to HIV-infected people; they listened to the advice and recommendations of students with interests.
Each pupil received the brochure with brief information about HIV/AIDS, diagnostic and preventive centers, symbols of World AIDS Day.
At the beginning and at the end of training pupils took part in anonymous questionnaire survey on knowledge about ways for HIV transmission. Having analyzed the results, students found out that the number of correct answers was increased up to 86% at the end of the lecture in comparison with 40% at the beginning. Thus, an informed human means a half armed and protected person.
NOTE
Myths and reality about HIV-infection/AIDS
The disease with title AIDS progresses every year and takes the lives of million people. There are no obstacles for AIDS, it equally strikes men, women and children. Today 40 millions people in the planet are infected with HIV. AIDS is caused by HIV - human immunodeficient virus. Infected people are called HIV-positive. However only the final stage of disease is called AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
It is very important to know how HIV is transmitted and how to defend against it.
HIV is transmitted by three clearly defined ways:
1. HIV may be transmitted at unprotected sex, if one of the partners is a vehicle of disease. Thus it is necessary to protect and correctly to use men’s and women’s preservatives.
2. HIV may be transmitted through the blood, infected blood transfusion, use of dirty syringes while taking drugs, dirty needles, piercing, tattoo, use of contaminated, blood infected blade. Thus, it is very important to use disposable needles and blades. It is enough to wash hands or object, on which the blood fell, with hot water.
3. HIV may be transmitted from HIV-positive mother to the child during pregnancy, deliveries or lactation.
If a HIV-positive mother decides to deliver a child, the doctor can give the information about treatment that exists at present moment, which reduces the risk for infection of child. Thus, there are only three ways for HIV infection by sex, through blood and from mother to child, and the rest of the ways, about which you can hear – are only fantasies.
The following statements are the real truth:
Skin is an irresistible barrier for HIV.
Such insects as mosquitoes do not transmit HIV.
You can touch, embarrass, kiss with HIV-positive human; you can wear the clothes of HIV-positive human.
You can use the items and devices, toilets, showers, underwear with HIV-positive human.
HIV cannot be breathed in, it is absent in the tears, sweat, saliva, you cannot be infected by touching to infected person.
To know – means to prevent!
Tests are the only possibility to detect, where a human is infected with HIV. This test helps detecting HIV during some years before the disease will develop and it is made through single blood analysis. Ukraine established the centers of anonymous and free of charge consultations, where there is the possibility to pass through the test. Knowing about available diseases enables timely starting the adequate treatment and preventing its development and progress. The efficiency in treatment means the reduction in the amount of virus in the blood. Thus, one can live with virus and to follow to usual life. However it is important not to forget about safety measures, mentioned above.
HIV-infected – you are not alone!
Today the treatment unfortunately cannot result in recovery but it may return to the normal rhythm of life as the treatment prevents from reproduction of virus and development of disease.
Different treatment methods for AIDS have the adverse effects. For treatment to be efficient one cannot use alcohol, narcotics, smoke. It will be necessary regularly to visit a doctor. It should be remembered that if you are HIV-infected – you are not alone. It is necessary to join to the group of HIV-positive people, using associations, centers, etc. In no case HIV cannot be an obstacle at employment or cannot become a reason to stop labor activity. HIV-positive human is not obliged to inform an employer about his/her status.
HIV can touch everyone, thus it is important to provide HIV-infected with psychological support. HIV-positive person has the right to carry out personal life, to have friends, to acquire information and education. Human has the right to live!
