HIV awareness

Story by Brenda Msalali
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It harms your immune system by destroying the white blood cells that fight infection. This puts you at risk for serious infections and certain cancers. AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. It is the final stage of infection with HIV. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS.

HIV most often spreads through unprotected sex with an infected person. It may also spread by sharing drug needles or through contact with the blood of an infected person. Women can give it to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth. HIV has been known as a killer disease since no cure has been discovered yet. 

About 500,000 teenagers have been infected with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. The only way of HIV prevention is abstaining from sex. The government currently has a way of prolonging the life of someone living with HIV/AIDS through the introduction of ARVs. Victims throughout the whole country are encouraged to use ARVs which are supplied in hospitals for free. 

HIV/AIDS is taught in all institutions so as to create awareness. People are urged to get tested so they can know their status. Everyone is taught to embrace those who are victims of the disease instead of stigmatising them. Although,not everyone has embraced them, there is still hope for a better tomorrow. We may not be able to stop it by at least we can give hope. 

Being infected with HIV is no longer a death sentence. HIV is now looked on as a chronic manageable condition. However, having HIV is no picnic, either. Good nutrition is important for everyone’s health. Nutrition plays an important role in the health of the immune system and its ability to fight infection. Healthy eating also helps you become and stay a healthy weight, and can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis.

Having HIV doesn’t mean that you have to make big changes to your diet. But eating the right foods can make you feel better, have more energy and can keep your heart and bones healthy as you get older.

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