AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency virus) caused by HIV is not just a disease. It is about people. People with hopes, dreams, and struggles. It is about families and communities. It is about fear, strength, and courage.
How it spreads
It spreads mainly through certain body fluids from an infected person to a healthy individual; these body fluids include:
- Blood: sharing contaminated needles, syringes
- Semen, Vaginal fluids, and rectal fluids: unprotected sex
- Breast milk: from infected mother to child
- Blood transfusions
The Early Days
When AIDS appeared for the first time, nobody had any idea what it was. People were scared. They thought it spread through touch or sharing food. This made life hard for those who had it.
Ravi was just 28 years old when he found out he had AIDS. He had no idea what it meant. He says his life was turned miserably after it. When people came to know about his condition, they stopped talking to him.
Ravi’s story is not rare. Many people with HIV were treated badly. They were judged and left alone.
AIDS affects more than just one person. It touches families too.
Medicine Gives Hope
Over time, doctors created medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART). These medicines help people with HIV live longer. They also stop the virus from spreading.
If ART is taken on time and the right way, the HIV load in a patient can get so low that tests can’t even detect it. And you can’t pass the virus to others. The most important thing is sticking to the treatment and not missing even a single dose because a missing dose makes this therapy less effective.
How to stay safe and protected:
Preventing HIV is not hard. It starts with awareness. These are some effective ways to reduce risk:
- Practicing safe sex: Using a condom
- Avoid sharing needles
- Screen blood donations
- Kindness Changes Lives
Medicine is important, but support is just as important. When people with HIV are treated with kindness, their lives get better.
Moving Forward
Nowadays, AIDS is not as scary and fatal as it used to be. People with HIV now can live longer and healthier lives. But the fight is not yet over. Some people in backward and rural areas still cannot get good treatment. Others are still facing judgment and fear.
AIDS is about people. Behind every case is a person with feelings, struggles, and hope.
We can all help. Learn the facts. Be kind. Please support those who need it. Together, we can fight AIDS—not just with medicine but with love.
