aids
...ry carefully and the risk is extremely low. There are no documented cases of HIV being transmitted by tears or saliva, but it is possible to be infected with HIV through oral sex or in rare cases through deep kissing, especially if you have open sores in your mouth or bleeding gums. IS THERE A CURE FOR AIDS? There is no cure for AIDS. There are drugs that can slow down the HIV virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. But there is no way to get all the HIV out of your body. There are other drugs that you can take to prevent or to treat opportunistic infections (OIs). In most cases, these drugs work very well. The newer, stronger anti-HIV drugs have also helped reduce the rates of most OIs. A few OIs, however, are still very difficult to treat. Transmission. HIV/AIDS has been thought of in the past as a disease mainly affecting gay men or drug users. In fact, in 2004, most HIV infections come from heterosexual sex. And in heterosexual sex, women are more likely to become infected than are men. Mother to child transmission of HIV accounted for 90% of all babies infected in 2003. A drug is cheaply available to greatly reduce the chances of this occurring, but it fails to be provided to many women around the world. HIV can also be transmitted by breast milk, which is easily substituted for artificial alternatives – also, often unavailable. Sexual violence is an issue affecting women everywhere in the world. It can be even more damaging when it involves the transmission, sometimes deliberate, of HIV. A new and alarming phenomenon that has been seen in the past decade is the use of HIV as a weapon of war. In conflict areas such as Rwanda and Kosovo there have been reports of thousands of women being raped and purposely infected with HIV as part of a campaign of 'ethnic cleansing'. Discrimination is an issue which has affected women for many decades. It can impact on their job prospects, their economic and social position, their access to healthcare and education. Women who have HIV may experience discrimination on two fronts, and if the healthcare services discriminate against them, their lives can be shortened as a result. Men are the most common route of HIV transmission to women. In fact, most women infected with HIV have caught the virus from a husband or partner. In order for HIV to be effectively tackled on an international level, efforts need to be made to End the discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS. Educate people in safer sex and drug use, using appropriate media. Provide condoms freely to people in the developing world. Provide financial and medical assistance so that people with HIV and AIDS can be treated. Have a dressing up, down or fancy dress day Put up some posters - get people talking Sell red ribbons Organise a creative writing/poster campaign Set up a debate or a quiz – there’re lots of ideas for topics on our site Cook an international meal or have a cake sale Arrange a sponsored three-legged race or balloon release Get your friends, family, colleagues or pupils to express their feelings and expand their knowl...