Know HIV/AIDS & Do What You Can
Author: Rev. Sunil Akkarath
Category: Popular Read
Publish Date: Dec 10, 2010
Views: 17974
December 1st - World AIDS Day, In our busy life schedule most of the people will like to see as a normal day where as the people who experiencing AIDS and concern with social vision will acknowledge and do something for this with loving heart. Not a day passes without some news about the growing threat of HIV/AIDS, and its rapid spread across the face of the earth, no other disease has attracted so much hysteria, research dollars and curiosity as HIV/AIDS in this century. Since 1981,AIDS has killed more than 25 million people worldwide. Today around 40 million live with HIV. For us in India, this is especially terrifying-as South Asia is the region that is recording the fastest increase in AIDS. And Mumbai is the city with the dubious distinction of having overtaken Bangkok as the HIV/AIDS capital of the world. As true Christian because of Christ love we cant close our eyes towards these victims.
What is HIV/AIDS?
H- Human: because this virus can only infect human beings.
I - Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the bodys immune system.
V- Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.
A- Acquired: because its a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes
I - Immune: because it affects the bodys immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses
D- Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly)
S- Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections.
But having HIV does not mean you have AIDS. Even without treatment, it takes a long time for HIV to progress to AIDSusually 10 to 12 years. If HIV is diagnosed before it becomes AIDS, medicines can slow or stop the damage to the immune system. With treatment, many people with HIV are able to live long and active lives.
The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are:
Having sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
Injecting drugs using a needle or syringe that has been used by someone who is infected.
As a baby of an infected mother, during pregnancy, labour or delivery, or through breastfeeding.
Symptoms of HIV Infection
Off and On fever, Chronic cough, Loss of Appetite and Weight loss, Ulcers in Mouth cavity, Skin Infection, Lumps in neck/armpit/ groin, Blurred vision and Headaches etc..
Diagnosis of HIV infection
The only reliable way to know ones HIV status is to do a blood test. It is very mandatory that before and after every HIV tests there should be counseling, they are called Pre-test counseling and Post-test counseling. Elisa test, Spot test, Western blot test are the common HIV diagnosis tests.
Medical Treatment
AIDS is 100% fatal. There is no cure, and no vaccine, against AIDS. But there some medicine discovered to develop CD4 count like, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
Christian Believers and HIV/AIDS Victims
Unfortunately many Christian believers also fallen to this deadly sickness. I have gone through some of the believers in India .AS we know in European and African countries most of the infected people from Believers background. But many are dying without God and without hope. The fires of AIDS raging all around the world gives Christians and church a unique opportunity to minister in Christ name.
1) Psychological and Spiritual help for people living with HIV/AIDS
People living with HIV/AIDS live in the valley of the shadow of death.Living perhaps closer to death than most of us, they often have serious questions, concerns, and fears about life, death, God, salvation and other issues of ultimate importance. The pastor or believer can help people with these concerns. They should be ready to listen with respect and a non-judgmental attitude. In this way, the pastors or believers can best minister the love of Christ and offer hope and forgiveness. They can lead people to a true knowledge of Gods grace and to seeing death as a gateway to heaven. Reading Gods word with those who are suffering, praying together, and answering their questions are important. We often underestimate the power of prayer to bring change into the lives of suffering people. God is God of comfort and healing. If it is his will, God can use the prayers of his people to bring healing to the person with AIDS.
2) Caring for the care-givers
Families and other daily care-givers easily become exhausted by the constant demands of caring for those with HIV/AIDS. This gives the local church a wonderful opportunity to be involved in caring for the care-givers. Volunteers can go into the home regularly to allow the care-giver to shop, go to school, go to church, or just get a complete break. The money can pay for food, soap , medical care, school books and school fees. Pastors, elders, and church members can offer encouragement, prayer, counseling and practical support.
The Word of God says 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Surely, one of the most important things that Christians can do is pray for Gods intervention in the AIDS crisis. We need to pray for a great miracle in our nations. God is able to change heart and situation by his almighty power. Let the Love of Christ in us help to do the best for these people. May the God Bless you all.
What is HIV/AIDS?
H- Human: because this virus can only infect human beings.
I - Immuno-deficiency: because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the bodys immune system.
V- Virus: because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell.
A- Acquired: because its a condition one must acquire or get infected with; not something transmitted through the genes
I - Immune: because it affects the bodys immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses
D- Deficiency: because it makes the immune system deficient (makes it not work properly)
S- Syndrome: because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections.
But having HIV does not mean you have AIDS. Even without treatment, it takes a long time for HIV to progress to AIDSusually 10 to 12 years. If HIV is diagnosed before it becomes AIDS, medicines can slow or stop the damage to the immune system. With treatment, many people with HIV are able to live long and active lives.
The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are:
Having sexual intercourse with an infected partner.
Injecting drugs using a needle or syringe that has been used by someone who is infected.
As a baby of an infected mother, during pregnancy, labour or delivery, or through breastfeeding.
Symptoms of HIV Infection
Off and On fever, Chronic cough, Loss of Appetite and Weight loss, Ulcers in Mouth cavity, Skin Infection, Lumps in neck/armpit/ groin, Blurred vision and Headaches etc..
Diagnosis of HIV infection
The only reliable way to know ones HIV status is to do a blood test. It is very mandatory that before and after every HIV tests there should be counseling, they are called Pre-test counseling and Post-test counseling. Elisa test, Spot test, Western blot test are the common HIV diagnosis tests.
Medical Treatment
AIDS is 100% fatal. There is no cure, and no vaccine, against AIDS. But there some medicine discovered to develop CD4 count like, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).
Christian Believers and HIV/AIDS Victims
Unfortunately many Christian believers also fallen to this deadly sickness. I have gone through some of the believers in India .AS we know in European and African countries most of the infected people from Believers background. But many are dying without God and without hope. The fires of AIDS raging all around the world gives Christians and church a unique opportunity to minister in Christ name.
1) Psychological and Spiritual help for people living with HIV/AIDS
People living with HIV/AIDS live in the valley of the shadow of death.Living perhaps closer to death than most of us, they often have serious questions, concerns, and fears about life, death, God, salvation and other issues of ultimate importance. The pastor or believer can help people with these concerns. They should be ready to listen with respect and a non-judgmental attitude. In this way, the pastors or believers can best minister the love of Christ and offer hope and forgiveness. They can lead people to a true knowledge of Gods grace and to seeing death as a gateway to heaven. Reading Gods word with those who are suffering, praying together, and answering their questions are important. We often underestimate the power of prayer to bring change into the lives of suffering people. God is God of comfort and healing. If it is his will, God can use the prayers of his people to bring healing to the person with AIDS.
2) Caring for the care-givers
Families and other daily care-givers easily become exhausted by the constant demands of caring for those with HIV/AIDS. This gives the local church a wonderful opportunity to be involved in caring for the care-givers. Volunteers can go into the home regularly to allow the care-giver to shop, go to school, go to church, or just get a complete break. The money can pay for food, soap , medical care, school books and school fees. Pastors, elders, and church members can offer encouragement, prayer, counseling and practical support.
The Word of God says 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Surely, one of the most important things that Christians can do is pray for Gods intervention in the AIDS crisis. We need to pray for a great miracle in our nations. God is able to change heart and situation by his almighty power. Let the Love of Christ in us help to do the best for these people. May the God Bless you all.
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