HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Acquired- resulting from exposure to something
Immune deficiency - impairs the immune system to function properly
Syndrome - a group of health problems that make a disease
What causes AIDS?
HIV - it is a virus that attacks the immune system. Particularly the T cells of the body. If you get infected with the virus, your body starts to make antibodies to fight infection. As HIV progresses the body becomes more vulnerable to infection. Studies show that it may take years for HIV to develop and become until it has damaged the immune system of the body making it enough for AIDS to develop.
How do you get AIDS?
People in the Philippines have known AIDS. There were some cases in the Philippines and now it is growing. The alarming number of HIV infected persons now call the Department of Health to take action.
If you get infected with HIV, your body will try to fight the infection. However, these virus are not the usual virus these are stronger virus that fights the T- cells of the body. These T- cells make up the fighting mechanism of the body from infection. Once destroyed, the body does not recover and eventually fights off anything on its path.
Most people get the virus by:
- Having sexual intercourse. Seminal and vaginal fluids or body fluids
- Needle puncture with an infected HIV
- Being born when the mother is infected.
Is there a cure for AIDS?
Antiretroviral treatment can prolong the time between the HIV infection and onset of AIDS.
Right now, there is no cure for AIDS. There are only drugs that can slow the damage to your immune system. There are more researches being made right now for the proper drugs to cure AIDS.
End of Life care becomes necessary when a person has reached the very final stage of AIDS. It is the time when we care for the patient infected with love, spiritual support and relief from pain.
Nowadays, it has become a trend for many Filipinos because of the lack of reproductive health education, people are more vulnerable to these diseases. Let us not blame arrogance or lack of knowledge, or even the Catholic Church. The Philippines is a Catholic country, unwittingly promoting a no contraceptive act has its advantage and disadvantages.
Let us help people who are infected with the virus and learn from them. Life is a battlefield.
I am writing this because I really would love to have my own organization or a small group for AIDS infected people. They should not be outcasted from the society rather be humane to care for them in our own ways.
The public should be educated about this growing number of people infected with the virus. Hopefully, God will give us the strength to carry on. God bless!
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