HIV/AIDS - Its better never than late

Why would one choose HIV/AIDS to write about? I will ask why not? It is the world's deadliest pandemic that has jeopardised the lives of more than 40 million people globally. The figures are stunning!!!

1. WHO estimates that it has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognised in 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemic in the record history.

2. It has taken more than 3 million lives in 2005, an increase from 2004, in which nearly half a million were children.

3. It has infected more than 5 million people in 2005, again an increase from 2004.

So, how is it spreading its wings despite so many awareness programmes!!! Are we really aware of the reasons that cause HIV infection? Are we really safe with the kind of efforts all the health organisations are putting to keep it off?

I have grown up watching TV ad for the prevention from HIV infection. They say it does not spread by touching, kissing, hugging, eating together, using same clothes and utensils etc but they hardly speak about the ways through which it infects people. The general awareness in India is, it spreads through unsafe sex, blood tranfusion, needle sharing injection-drug use and a mother to her child. But don't we need to know deeper than this? Do we all know what is unsafe sex? We still find it difficult to discuss this with our young and adolescent children who are eventually at higher risk due to lack of proper knowledge. Isn't it our duty to apprise them about unsafe and safe(r) sex?

Unsafe sex (i.e. sex without any preventive measures with an HIV infected person) and sharing needles for injecting drugs are the primary causes of its widespread nature. Recent studies show that the cases of HIV infection due to needle sharing are decreasing but on the contrary, cases of HIV infection due to unsafe sex are alarmingly increasing in spite of all the awareness programmes and in spite of knowing that it is risky. People in the age group 15-40 are the worst hit by this epidemic.

The only way through which one can remain uninfected from HIV through unsafe sex is either abstain from it and remain committed to his/her partner or use condoms. Former is the best way to keep it off but this is not the only solution because people will indulge in casual sex and in turn, will menace their lives. Moreover, in case you are committed but not sure about your partner's status then also it's a kind of risk. Use of condoms can substantially reduce the chances of getting HIV infection. It also virtually reduces the chances of getting unwanted pregnancy. Although many health organisations are distributing free condoms but the number of HIV infected people is still increasing. Why? Can only distributing condoms stop people to have unsafe sex? Answer is a big NO. Because only giving them condoms does not necessarily persuade them to use it. We have to change their behavior and for that we have to change their cognizance that can only be done by educating them. We need to educate people about sex and the intricacies involved with it. We need to educate them about the threat, which a single unsafe sexual activity can pose to their lives. We need to educate them that any kind of unsafe sexual contact, be it anal intercourse (between men and men or men and women), be it vaginal intercourse (between men and women) or be it oral intercourse (between men and men or men and women), has its own risk and can destroy the whole life of any person and we need to educate them about the ways to feel sexual gratification with a condom too.

There is no cure for the HIV infection till now. Researchers have been trying for more than two decades to find some vaccine/medicine for this deadly infection but till now prevention is the only cure.

I must advice that do not invlove in sexual activities that can lead your life to a different path. If you are married then remain committed to your partner and avoid casual sex with others. If you are going to get married then make it an issue to know each other's status. If you are not married and invloved in sexual activites then use condoms and most importantly refrain from risky sexual activites because sometimes its better never than late.

PS : All the figures here are from Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aids

I was not knowing so many facts about HIV infection before reading from the following link.

http://www.thewellproject.org/

If you have doubts then do not delay. Do read from the above mentioned locations or other useful websites.

The TV ad mentioned above was quite recurrent on DoorDarshan, India.

Rest all is my personal view.

If this article helps even a single person, the purpose is solved.

All the comments and criticisms are welcome.