Today is #WorldAIDSDay and here are some things you should know

HIV/AIDS is a pandemic that affects both young and old. Every 1st of December, the world unifies to create awareness on the disease and support the millions of people living with HIV/AIDS. Here are some important things to know about HIV/AIDS

HIV can now be controlled: While there is no cure for HIV/AIDS yet, advancement in medicine and adequate distribution system has made access to antiretroviral drugs (ART) readily available to patients, ART are drugs that suppress the growth of HIV virus in the body, HIV-positive people now live longer and healthier lives, ART also prevents onward transmission of HIV. Progress has also been made in preventing and eliminating mother-to-child transmission and keeping mothers alive, if you or anyone you know is pregnant and HIV-positive, notify your doctor and visit a PMTCT (Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission) clinic near you.

Prevention is still the best cure: Today, more tools than ever are available to prevent HIV. In addition to abstinence, limiting your number of sexual partners, never sharing needles, and using protective during sexual intercourse, there are also drugs known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) that can be taken by people who are HIV-negative but are at very high risk of contracting HIV (for example, people with HIV positive partners).

It is now illegal to stigmatise or expose the status of HIV/AID positive people: Yes, the Federal government passed HIV and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act 2014 into law this year, therefore, intentionally exposing an HIV/AIDS positive person to stigmatization and victimization can bring heavy consequences and fines your way, so keep it to yourself and love everyone equally.

Get tested and tell others: Many people especially youths don’t know their HIV status and this is bad because early detection is a life saver. The test is free in most health centers, go get tested today and tell everyone around you to get tested too. Only  60% of people with HIV know their status, it is our duty to make this 100% so that they get the help they need and also stop transmitting the virus to other people unintentionally.

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