WEEK TEN
CRS LESSON NOTE SSONE THIRD TERM
HIV/AIDS
a.Meaning of HIV/AIDS
HIV is an acronym which means Human Immunodeficiency Virus, while AIDS is an acronym which means Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. This is a deadly disease that destroys the immune system of a victim and ultimately leads to his untimely death.
b.How people can be infected by HIV/AIDS and symptoms
People only get HIV/AIDS by coming in contact with some specific bodily fluids of someone living with the virus. These bodily fluids include; blood, semen, breastmilk, vaginal fluids and anal mucuous.
HIV is transmitted in the following instances:
1. A person has unprotected sex with an infected person
2. A person shares injecting equipment like syringe with an infected person
3. A mother may transfer the virus to her unborn child during pregnancy
4. A mother can also transfer to a baby at birth
5. A mother can also transfer it to her baby through breastfeeding
6. A person can be infected through contaminated blood transfusion.
HIV is not transmitted through other bodily fluids like saliva, sweat or urine.
SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms of this deadly disease may include but not limited to:
1. Fever (raised temperature)
2. Body rash
3. Sore throat
4. Swollen glands
5. Headache
6. Stomach upset
7. Joint ache and pains
8. Muscle pain
9. Dry cough
10. Fatigue
11. Loss of appetite
12. Malaise
13. Abnormal sweating
14. Nausea
15. Opportunistic infections
16. Severe loss of weight
17. Diarrhoea
18. Ulcers
c. Prevention of HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS can be prevented with the following measures:
1. Use condoms during sex. However the safest way is to abstain from sex until you are married and married couples should stick to their partners.
2. Do not share injected equipment like needles and syringe
3. Blood must be tested or screened for HIV before transfusion is administered
4. Body tissues or organs should also be properly screened before transplant takes place
5. Use PrEP, a course of HIV drugs which prevents HIV infection from breaking down the organs of the body
6. Take HIV treatment if you are a new or expectant mother living with HIV
7. Health workers in contact with bodily fluids should constantly wear hand gloves regularly and dispose sharp and especially injecting equipment.
d. Cure for HIV/AIDS (People who are sick, Jesus cared for them)
There is no cure for HIV although antiretrovireal treatment can control the virus. Most researches are looking for functional and sterilising cure where HIV is either reduced to undetectable and harmless level or eradicating it from the body completely.
InJohn 4:46-54, the Bible records the story of a royal official who begged Jesus to come and heal his son. Although Jesus scolded the people for not believing except they see a sign, He healed the man’s son without even going there. Also in John 5:1-8, it is recorded there how Jesus healed a man who was sick for thirty eight years by the pool of Bethesda. Furthermore in John 9:1-7, Jesus healed a man who was born blind by spitting on the ground. He made mud with his saliva and put it on the man’s eyes and instructed him to wash in the pool of Siloam (which means ‘sent’)
Although, a cure has not been found for HIV/AIDS, Jesus has demonstrated the power of God in healing all kinds of diseases and can also heal HIV/AIDS.
12. Revision of the term’s work
Unprecedented 