World AIDS Day 2020: Global solidarity, shared responsibility

 

What is the need?

Since the late 1990s, the world has made significant progress but HIV remains a major global public health issue. It is facing additional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic like many other major health issues. In 2019 around 38,000,000 people were living with HIV, 1,700,000 people were newly infected with HIV, 320,000 children and adolescents newly infected with HIV in 2019, 1 every 100 seconds and 690,000 people died of HIV-related causes & 68% of adults living with HIV received lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV generally affects people at the most productive age, leading to premature death thereby severely affecting the socio-economic structure of whole families, communities, and countries. Hence we need to educate people about this disease & raise awareness.

What is HIV?

HIV - Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. After entering the human body HIV gradually destroys the immune system, i.e. the ability of the body to fight infections/diseases.

What is AIDS?

AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is the later stage of HIV infection. It is a condition in which the immune system becomes very weak & a group of symptoms appears. It takes around 8-10 years from the time of HIV infection to the stage of AIDS. HIV infected person can also lead to symptom–free and productive lives for years.

When is it celebrated?

World AIDS Day is celebrated every year on December 1 since 1988. It is dedicated to raise awareness, educate and improve the understanding of HIV to common people as a global public health problem. It provides a very good opportunity to understand the interdependence between progress in ending Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and progress towards universal health coverage and the right to health. this year the theme of World AIDS Day is “Global solidarity, shared responsibility”.

What are the Signs and Symptoms?

• It varies depending on the stage of infection. The first few weeks after initial infection, individuals may experience no symptoms or an influenza-like illness including fever, headache, rash, or sore throat.

• As the infection progresses, an individual can develop other signs and symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhea, and cough.

• Without treatment, they could develop severe illnesses such as tuberculosis, meningitis, severe bacterial infections, and cancers.

Do all people with HIV have AIDS?

No. Being diagnosed with HIV does not mean that a person will also be diagnosed with AIDS. Doctors diagnose AIDS only when people with HIV infection begin to get severe opportunistic infections (OIs), or their CD4cell counts fall below a certain level.

How do people get infected with HIV?

HIV can be transmitted through: 

• Unprotected anal or vaginal sex with an HIV infected person- The most frequent mode of transmission of HIV is through sexual contact with an infected person.

• Transfusion of HIV-infected blood or blood products- Receiving blood transfusions, blood products, or organ/tissue transplants that are contaminated with HIV can result in HIV infection.

• Sharing of needles contaminated with HIV infected blood- HIV can be transmitted through needles and syringes contaminated with HIV infected blood.  

• From HIV infected mother to her baby – during pregnancy, during birth, or after delivery through breast milk.

• Experiencing accidental needle stick injuries, including among health workers and having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and bacterial vaginosis are other risk factors.

Who are High-Risk Groups (HRGs)?

• Female sex workers (FSW)

• Men who have sex with men (MSM)

• Transgenders (TG)/Hijras' and 

• Injecting drug users (IDUs) belong to high-risk groups 

Who are Bridge Populations?

Individuals who have sexual partners in the high-risk groups, as well as other partners of lower risk (general population), are called a “bridge population” because they form a transmission bridge from the HRGs to the general population. Truckers and Migrant workers are named as bridge populations due to their close proximity with high-risk groups and are at the risk of contracting HIV.

How HIV is not transmitted?

HIV doesn’t spread through ordinary social contact; for example by

• Hugging

• Shaking hands 

• Sharing toilets

• Sharing dishes 

• Closed-mouth or “social” kissing with someone who is HIV-positive

• Mosquitoes, ticks, or other blood-sucking insects

• Traveling on the same bus/ car/ train

Is there any treatment available for HIV/AIDS?

There is no cure but effective Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) drugs are available which can prolong the life of an HIV-positive person and thus enhance the quality of life. The patient has to take life long treatment once initiated on ART. It is freely available at ART centers across India.

How to prevent and control HIV/AIDS?

• Be faithful to your partner & Practice  safe sexual behaviors such as the use of condoms

• Get tested and treated for sexually transmitted diseases

• Never share needles or other injecting equipment, including syringes, spoons, and swabs (injecting drug users)

• All pregnant women should be tested for HIV as a part of routine antenatal screening, and start HIV treatment immediately if found positive for HIV.

• Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): It is a short-term antiretroviral treatment to reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure, either occupationally or through sexual intercourse.

Key messages-

• Awareness is the best prevention of AIDS.

• There is no cure for HIV infection. However, effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can control the virus and help prevent transmission.

• With antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, people with HIV, and those at substantial risk, can enjoy healthy, long, and productive lives.

What are the impacts of COVID-19?

HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care services are being disrupted mostly in countries with fragile health systems due to a breakdown in essential HIV services due to COVID-19. It is threatening lives & will leave many vulnerable populations at greater risk of HIV infection and AIDS-related deaths. On 1 December WHO & the whole world are paying tribute to all those working to provide HIV services & joining hands for “global solidarity” to maintain essential HIV services during COVID 19 and beyond. It is a time to focus on vulnerable groups who are already at risk and expand coverage to children and adolescents.

References:

1. http://naco.gov.in/faqs
2. https://www.nhp.gov.in/world-aids-day_pg
3. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-aids-day/2020
4. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids
5. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/hiv-aids
6. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2020/november/world-aids-day-2020-message-from-executive-director-winnie-byanyima
7. https://www.unaids.org/en/World_AIDS_Day
8. https://www.cdc.gov/worldaidsday/index.html
9. https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable-diseases/hivaids/world-aids-day
10. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/2020-world-aids-day-report-reimagining-resilient-hiv-response-children-adolescents-and#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%2FJOHANNESBURG%2C%2025%20November,in%20a%20report%20released%20today.
11. https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-aids-day
12. https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/infographics/you-can-safely-sharewith-someone-hiv
13. https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/acquired-immunodeficiency-syndrome-aids-hiv
14. http://www.albanydamiencenter.org/hiv-resources--faq.html