AIM

 Facts about HIV

HIV is transmitted in three main ways:

Through unprotected sex with an infected person, i.e. having sex without a condom with someone who is infected with the HIV virus.

Through infected blood, this is when a blood transfusion is given, while the blood used is infected with the HIV virus.

From an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.

People infected with the HIV virus are able to pass it on to others:

Once the virus has been passed on to you, it remains in the body for life.

The is no vaccine    The is no cure.

 

You can help to protect yourself from HIV through:

Practising Safer Sex

Avoiding sharing equipment which pierce the skin, e.g. ear piercing equipment, tattooing, hypodermic needles and syringes. Always use new hypodermic needles and syringes for vaccinations, and avoid using public piercing or tattooing equipment unless they have been properly sterilised.

* You can not always tell if someone has HIV by looking at them, always protect

yourself by practising safer sex and use a condom.

It is completely not true that HIV can be passed on through everyday contact such as:

Touching, shaking hands, kissing, tears

Using toilet seat

Sharing cups, cutlery, plates, towels, bed covers or food.

Sharing a house, flat or working with someone infected with HIV

Using a swimming pool.

HIV can neither be passed on by

Coughing and sneezing, as it is not an airborne virus

Caring or looking after someone ill of the HIV related infections as long as there is no direct contact with blood, take extra care if you have cuts in your hands as this might be a possible route for HIV to get into your blood stream.

Connect with your health. Act now

Learn more about the epidemic and become an AIDS Educator.

*Who should be tested?

Testing is recommended if:

• If you are a drug user. Sharing a needle and syringe to inject drugs or sharing drug equipment used to prepare drugs for injection with someone who has HIV can infect you with the virus.

• You think you may have been exposed to the HIV. 

• You are sexually active, especially if you have multiple sex partners. 

• You have received a blood transfusion between the late 70s or 1980, or a sexual partner received a transfusion and later tested positive for HIV.

• You have doubts about your sexual partner's risk behaviors. 

• If you have a history of unprotected sex with potentially infected persons

• You have used street drugs by injection since 1977, especially when sharing needles and/or other equipment.

• If you have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Get tested if you have syphilis or gonorrhea.

• You are a health care worker with direct exposure to blood on the job.

• You are a woman and want to make sure you  are not infected with HIV before getting pregnant.

• You are a pregnant woman.

Even if you have no risk factors for HIV infection, you may still want to get tested to ease your own mind. This also encourages everyone to be more responsible about HIV transmission.

 

*Where can I get tested in Zambia?

 Kara House
 CHA CHA CHA Road
 P.O. Box 37559
 LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

or

 Fr. Michael T Kelly
 Director
 Fax: 260-1-229848
 Tel:260-1-229846, 229847, 222776, 238461 .
 E-mail: kara@zamnet.zm

Send us e-mail if you are currently carrying out HIV testing in Zambia.

 Give us information about 

 * your physical address

 * Telephone numbers

 * E-mail address

*What Do My Test Results Mean?

A negative test result means:

 

• If you have not engaged in any risky behaviors for the last 6 months, you are not currently infected with HIV. If you have had unprotected sex or shared needles or have other risk factors in the last 6 months, you should be tested again. You could still be HIV positive, and pass the HIV on to other people, even though your test is negative.

• A negative test does not mean that you are immune to HIV.

• Some people who have a negative test may be tempted to continue risk behaviors, believing "It can't happen to me." If you continue unsafe behaviors, you are still at risk.

A positive test result means:

 

• You are infected with the HIV virus. This does not necessarily mean that you have AIDS.

• A person with HIV is infected for life. He or she can pass the virus to others by having unprotected sex, or by sharing drug use needles or equipment. To protect yourself and others, you need to avoid doing these things. A woman who has HIV can pass it on to her unborn or breast feeding baby. Those carrying the HIV virus should not donate blood, plasma, semen, body organs, or other tissue.

• You should choose a doctor to monitor the progression of HIV in your body, and advise you on when it is appropriate to begin treatment.  You may wish to change to a doctor that specializes in HIV care.

• If your HIV test is positive, your sexual partners and anyone with whom you have shared drug injection equipment may also be infected. They should be told they have been exposed to HIV and advised to seek HIV counseling and antibody testing. You can tell them yourself, work with your doctor, or ask for help from the local health department. 

Should I Test Again?

Benefits of Periodic testing:

 

• It takes up to 6 months for the HIV virus to be detected. If you have tested before this time has passed, you should test again to allow for this.
• Always knowing your HIV status may empower you to continue doing the right things.
• May give you an increased peace of mind in knowing you are negative.
• If you should become positive, you will know at the earlier possible moment and will have more treatment options available to you than if you learn about this later.

-There is a virus antibody test that tells if someone has been infected with the virus (i.e., has a positive test result). This does not mean this individual has AIDS. In fact, many who have HIV may feel well, show no disease symptoms, and may not come down with AIDS for many years.

-There is a risk  that a donor could acquire HIV or AIDS by giving blood.

 

 

AIDS is a worldwide epidemic, and yet there is conflicting information about what to do, and who to believe.

 

Frequently Asked questions

Click on the questions for the answers

What is AIDS?

What is the distinction between HIV and AIDS?

How is HIV spread?

Why should I be tested?

Should I test again?

Who should be tested?

what about my privacy?

What are the symptoms?

Where can I get tested in Zambia?

 

 

 

HIV/AIDS affects everyone. You and me. The question is what are we going to do about it?

 

 

 

 

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Participate in debates on our message board highlighting  critical issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. 

HIV Testing