Pregnancy, Infection and HIV/AIDS..

I know it has been a long time since i checked in, but i have been away on training, and no access to internet service. My experiences have showed me, that young people have an urgent need for information as regards to conception, pregnancy, and contraception. To this end, I will try to link pregnancy and HIV/AIDS and how it affects young people.
We all know that sexual intercourse is the major means through which the virus is spread. The risks involved in pre-marital or unprotected sexual intercourse is two-pronged: the risk of infection and unwanted pregnancy. Protection is the most important aspect of healthy sexual relationships, because it ensures that adequate care is taken that pregnancy does not occur and the infections are kept at bay. Condoms are the best. protection in this instance because they prevent both pregnancy and infections. Pregnancy can be kept at bay by closely monitoring ovulation and fertility with the aid of a simple calendar, charts or the now popular ovulation calendar. This calendar is personalized so that each woman has a modern and stress free method of knowing when she is fertile or not. As for infections, protection(condom) is the best way to safeguard one's self.
When pregnancy occurs in a positive person, the risks are greater, because, the chances of passing the virus to the unborn child is exceedingly high (Mother-to-Child-Transmission). For this transmission to be avoided, specialized care has to be provided for the mother to be. All these could be avoided simply by protecting ourselves and learning to know and listen to our bodies.

The nature of the beast

So much misinformation on the nature of this deadly virus called HIV, is floating around. Some are still under the notion that it does not exist, some believe it does exist, but will never venture near them while some actually believe that they are resistant to it! As opinionated as some of these views may seem, i sometimes wonder if there is any iota of truth to them. If there is, i wonder why it has not been revealed to me. Some people are rather pessimistic and defeatist about this virus, believing that once one is infected, all hope will indeed be lost and one is to put his or her house in order, waiting for death.
The truth is that, the disease is very preventable and manageable. Risky sexual behaviour remains the highest mode of transmission for this virus. Abstinence from pre-marital sex, correct and consistent use of condom and fidelity to one uninfected partner, remains the best protection against HIV. When one is infected, the patient doesnt just die. Rather, the disease is progressive in nature, killing off the body's defence mechanisms until such a time that they are rendered powerless, and then AIDS sets in.
AIDS is another subject about which misconceptions flow around. This is no single disease, rather, it is the conglomeration of diseases affecting the now defenceless body. This is the final endpoint of the virus, HIV. When one is diagnosed of the virus, and adequate care, medication and healthy lifestyle is adherred to, the progression of the virus is slowed down significantly. Infact, the virus may never actually degenerate into full blown AIDS!
Remember, HIV is not a disease, rather, its a virus! We can help stop the spread by adopting rational and healthy and reasonable attitude towards sex and hygiene.

Counselling and HIV

Many people wonder what counselling really is, and how it affects the issue of HIV/AIDS. It has a lot to do with it, infact it is downright illegal to test someone without counselling! Yes, it is that important. Before one is tested, he has to be psychologically prepared for the outcome of the test. This is where counselling comes in. The client has to be adequately informed on the nature and consequences of the disease, and also, how it can be managed and controlled. The key weapon here, is the provision of information, so that the client can make informed decisions.
This information, encompasses the nature of the disease, mode of transmission, prevention, care/support and of course, treatment if neccessary. Only when this information is provided, can the client make a decision whether to be tested or not to be tested. Now, no matter the outcome of the test, another counselling session is called for. This is called the post test counselling. The direction of this session, will be determined by the result of the test. If the result is positive, the counsellor provides detailed information on services and healthcare available for the management of the disease. Despite this initial result, the client is advised to go for a confirmatory test, in order to eliminate error, both human and mechanical. The client is also introduced, by consent though, to various care and support groups.
If the result is negative, the client is advised to go for another test in three months time, incase the virus is still in its window period, but in the meanwhile, refrain from risky sexual behaviour. He is then counselled on preventive measures aimed at gaurding his status.
It is obvious with all these, that counselling plays a major role in the issue of this deadly virus. The clients are well informed on the disease, and are well prepared psychologically for whatever the outcome may be.

Catching Them Young

As a Peer Educator Trainer, i have had cause to deal with young people between the ages of thirteen to eighteen. You might be surprised at what they know! The NYSC-UNICEF sponsored project, has brought the message of HIV/AIDS down to the grassroots and most importantly, to school age children. Formerly, i was skeptical of talking to these adolescents about sex, reproduction and their bodies, truth be told, i was absolutely terrified!

I am very happy and i feel fulfilled, trying to impart useful and life changing and enhancing message to young people and having them love it and participate so well. It is shocking to see how misinformed these young ones are.

I am gratified to see and notice slight attitudinal changes in these young people. I also think it is great that we are now focusing on younger people, whose characters and personalities could still be influenced. They are now trying to inculcate rationality and safety into behaviour relating to sex, reproductive health and life in general. This shows that no matter how little you think you are contributing, you are changing lives.

So, i believe that contrary to what others may beleive, the task is not as thankless as you may think! Do something! Go change a life!

To get tested or not?

Around us as young people, a controversy rages. To get tested or not to get tested. In my experience with young people, this question has proved to be a bone of contention and as we all know, unless you are a dog, bones can be really tough to chew! So, what is it to be? I try as much as possible, to provide all necessary information, so that young people can make informed decisions because, when it comes down to the basics, its a personal decision.
Young people believe that when one is ignorant of his or her status, one can live a fulfilled, happy, healthy and though short life. On the other hand, when one gets tested and is found to be positive, your life is about over.
What i think? No matter how bitter or harsh the truth is, ignorance is much more expensive in the long run. Know your status. If positive, inculcate healthy living styles, join a support group and live vibrantly and positively. If negative, guard your status jealously and avoid risky behaviour. Either way, knowledge is power. Get tested, NOW and thank me later!

The Menace

HIV/AIDS is a preventable and treatable disease. Yet today, 6,800 people will be infected with HIV. Of the 2.5 million people infected yearly, young people account for 40 percent of new infections. Poverty, unemployment, a lack of education, sexual violence and gender inequality increase the vulnerability of young people to HIV infection.11.4 million children and adolescents have been orphaned by AIDS and are now heads of households, as we lose an entire generation of parents, teachers, workers and doctors in many regions.

Although world leaders committed that by 2005, 90% of young people would know how to protect themselves from infection, currently in the hardest hit countries, less than half of youth can correctly identify modes of HIV transmission.

Despite the debilitating effects of AIDS, young leaders are taking action in their communities to prevent the spread of the disease and to address the devastating consequences of the pandemic. In fact, evidence shows that young people are most effective at changing the risk behaviors of their peers and at shaping a better future for themselves and their families.

HIV Counselling and Testing

Over the past 20 years, voluntary counselling and testing programs (VCT) have helped millions of people learn their HIV status, yet more than 80% of people living with HIV in low and middle-income countries do not know that they are infected. Efforts are urgently needed to increase the provision of HIV testing through a wider range of effective and safe options.

HIV testing is a critical entry point to life-sustaining health care services for people living with HIV and AIDS and service delivery models need to be expanded to testing in antenatal care, sexually transmitted infection clinics, in-patient wards as well as free-standing client-initiated testing centres.NACA and UNAIDS encourage Nigerians to visit VCT services .WHO encourages countries to create free VCT centres as well as to standardize and expand provider-initiated testing and counselling so that more people learn their HIV status. However, endorsement of provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling is not an endorsement of coercive or mandatory HIV testing.

in Nigeria,NACA which is an acronym for national agency for the control if aids has spread its centres in all the 36 states in Nigeria creating an opportunity for everyone to access free HIV counselling and tests.avail yourself this opportunity to be sure of your status.go for a test today.