Role of Community in the AIDS Control Program (December 2)
by Reedy Sagolsem

Human history has been marked with epidemics that have left indelible marks on society through time. AIDS, Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome has posed a major challenge to the medical personnel and sociologists of the world. The initial uncertainly about the causative factor appeared to be resolved when Luc Montagnier isolated the virus in 1983 and International Committee on the Taxonomy of Virus nomenclatured it as Human Immunodeficiency Virus. 

The AIDS virus (HIV) may live in the human body for years and can be spread to others before illness sets in. It affects us by making our body unable to fight diseases and kill us. It is important to understand that people infected with the AIDS virus (HIV) usually look and feel healthy and may not know for many years that they are infected. But during this whole period, the person can infect others through the exchange of sexual fluids during sex and through contact with infected blood.

When symptoms do appear they can be like those of many common illnesses such as swollen glands, coughing, fever or diarrhea. These symptoms vary from person to person. A special blood test can tell if someone is infected with the AIDS virus (HIV). Since no cure is yet possible, this is a day on which we should rededicate ourselves to promoting in our community and society, the prevention aspect of HIV and AIDS.

How is the AIDS virus (HIV) spread: HIV is found in the blood and body fluids - semen in men and vaginal secretions in women. HIV is spread in three main ways:
(i) Sex: Most people get HIV by having unprotected sex with someone who already has HIV. A woman is many more times at risk of getting HIV through sex.
(ii) Infected blood: People get HIV through a blood transfusion of HIV infected. It can also come from a needle or blade that has been used on a person with HIV and not sterilized afterwards. Sharing a needle without sterilizing, particularly among those who inject drugs can spread HIV. Traditional customs of circumcision or scarification with unsterilized needles or blades can spread HIV. Sharing a common razor at the Barber's shop carries some risk of spreading HIV.
(iii) Mother to Babies: Women with HIV can pass it to their babies. The baby becomes infected while in the mother's womb or as it is being born. There is also some risk of transmission through breast milk.

Role of Community Participation in the AIDS Control Program: 
Some people with HIV or AIDS think everyone is looking at them or talking about them. This makes them want to hide. Sometimes they feel rejected by other people or they reject themselves. Sometimes they feel guilty. And some people with HIV or AIDS feel there is no good reason for living. Sometimes they stay at home, not eating, nor talking to anyone. If we have a friend who has HIV or AIDS we should be supportive and kind. We can also help our friend to live positively. We should give them moral support.

It is our moral duty to get the messages across to all members of the society who need to share the prevention challenge. Herein lies the role of the community.
The community is very important in supporting people with HIV and AIDS. The community can be a shelter where infected persons can be assured that they are loved, accepted and where they do not have to hide their feelings. If a friend or someone we know in the community has HIV or AIDS, we can encourage them to continue leading a normal life.

We can ensure that they take healthy food, enough rest, avoid stress, take light exercise and continue with their work. It is good if a community feels free to talk about AIDS, just as it talks about any other sickness. Then the people who want to gossip in an unkind way
will find themselves isolated and with nothing to say.

We should also have continuous interaction with the people about how can we prevent AIDS from spreading. It must be emphasized that if we want to help the person affected with AIDS, we must have complete knowledge about AIDS - what it is, how it is caused, how spread and how not spread etc.

There are countless ways to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS in the community. We can consult about HIV/AIDS with knowledgeable persons or doctors. Thereafter, we can make ourselves individual helpers or we can form a social organization, clubs etc. In the community hall or in the club, we can organize an audiovisual program on AIDS awareness or a public interaction with a knowledgeable person.

Training programs on AIDS for the teachers especially the schoolteachers should be organized. School students, who are in the teenage stage, cannot decide what is good or what is bad, and require guidance from teachers to steer them away from risky behavior. So, interaction on AIDS between teachers and students is a must in every school. Students are the pillars of the nation, so it is quite important that they be healthy and AIDS free.

We need to remind the people that the AIDS virus is not spread through:
(i) Casual touch, hugging, kissing, tears and sweats.
(ii) Sharing food and drinks with an HIV Positive person.
(iii) Sharing toilets, towels and clothes, combs, sheets.
(iv) Bites from mosquitoes, bed bugs or any other insect and cats.

The following are the some measures to prevent HIV infection from spreading:
(i) Using only sterilized skin piercing instruments like needle, syringes, blades and razors.
(ii) Using tested blood when required for transfusion.
(iii) Using a condom for safer sex.
(iv) Women who are HIV Positive must seek their doctor's advice before planning a baby. Women should be extra careful as they are more at risk of getting infected with HIV because of (a) greater chances of catching the infection during sexual intercourse, (b) greater chances of needing a blood transfusion because of bleeding associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

There is currently no treatment for AIDS. But the people with AIDS and HIV should be comforted by the fact that there are medicines that can help them to fight off sickness that come with HIV infection or AIDS. Antibiotics and other medicines can help people with AIDS to feel much better and to live longer.

Unfortunately, these drugs and medicines are often very expensive and not yet available in sufficient quantities in our state. Until such time as they are and until a treatment is found, we in the community have the task of helping the HIV/AIDS in dealing with the disease and living as normal a life as possible.

It is natural that fear of the unknown should haunt many people with HIV or AIDS get fear of the unknown who are afraid to die. At such moment they need people who can share their thoughts and comfort and encourage them. If death comes, they must be helped to accept it with courage and dignity. We may tell them that if they accept death in serenity, their courage can transform the lives of those they leave behind.

The community should work with open heart and open mind with the goal of prevention further spread of HIV infection and providing care and support to those affected by AIDS in the spirit of joint solidarity without considering for reward.

(Courtesy: The Imphal Free Press)

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