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Preventing HIV:
♦ If possible, have sex with only one partner who has sex only with you.
♦ Practice safer sex (see p. 290). Using a condom reduces the risk of getting
or giving HIV.
♦ Treat sexually transmitted infections early—especially those that cause sores.
♦ Do not share the same needle or syringe or have an injection unless you are
sure the instruments are sterilized first with bleach or by boiling for 20 minutes.
Health workers should NEVER re-use a needle or syringe without
sterilizing it first (see p. 74). Also make sure equipment for circumcision, ear
piercing, acupuncture, and traditional practices such as scarring, is sterilized.
♦ If possible, do not accept a transfusion of blood that has not first been tested.
Avoid transfusions except when absolutely necessary.
♦ Do not share razors.
♦ Wear latex gloves or plastic bags on your hands if you touch someone else’s
wound, blood, or body fluids.
Setting up treatment and testing programs will also help prevent HIV from
spreading in your community. In the long run, HIV can best be prevented by fighting
for fairer social and economic conditions, so that people have stronger bodies from
better nutrition, so that families do not need to separate to find work, and so that
people need not sell their bodies for sex.
Caring for someone with HIV or AIDS:
People with HIV or AIDS need comfort, kindness,
and emotional support. They may also need help
getting enough to eat, or taking their medicines.
If they have a lot of fever, diarrhea, or pain, they
will need extra help staying clean. This can usually
be done without risk. To prevent spreading the virus,
remember:
♦ Blood, open sores, bloody diarrhea, or bloody
vomit can spread the virus. To prevent
touching these, wear rubber latex or plastic
gloves, or plastic bags on your hands. Wash
your hands often.
♦ Soiled or bloody clothes, bedding, or towels
should be handled with care. Wash them in
hot soapy water, or add chlorine bleach. Keep
separate from other household laundry.
Be kind to persons
with AIDS.
At some point, there is nothing more that can be done to treat a person with
AIDS. At home, family and friends can give love and support to help the person
prepare for his or her death (see p. 330).