COVID-19 AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV:
what we need to know
What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Retrovirus is a group of viruses consisting of a single RNA strain which attacks the cells of the human immune system by destroying or intergering with their normal function and causing a decrease.
A person who is infected by this virus (HIV-positive person) is not the same as having AIDS.
AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is a syndrome with a variety of symptoms and infections associated with a decreased immune system. The term “AIDS” is used to describe the most advanced stages of HIV infection. If people living with HIV don’t get treatment, there will be signs of AIDS within 8-10 years.
HIV PROGRESSION TO AIDS
step I
Does not show any symptoms and no categorized as AIDS.
step II
Symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection that won’t heal start to appear.
step III
Symptoms of chronic diarrhea with no clear cause lasts for more than one month, can be followed by a severe bacterial infection, and/or pulmonary tuberculosis.
step IV
There is a further infection where parasite, which generally do not cause disease, can make an HIV positive sick such as toxoplasmosis and candidiasis in the respiratory tract.
The length of time HIV progresses to AIDS can be various. With a healthy lifestyle, the interval between HIV infection to an AIDS can range within 10-15 years, sometimes even longer. Neither HIV nor AIDS is curable. However, through antiretroviral therapy, we can slow the progression of AIDS which works by reducing the amount of virus in the body.
TRANSMISSION
HIV in the human body can be found in body fluid such as blood, sperm,vaginal discharge, and breast milk. How HIV transmission occurs:
- Sexual transmission
Unprotected penetrative sex - The use of neeles
repeated use - Mother to child transmission (possible risk of transmission 15-30%)
- Blood transfer (possible risk of transmission >90%)
The implementation of blood safety standards needs to guarantee the supply of safe and qualified blood for all patients requiring transfusion.
COVID-19 AND HIV
Older people living with HIV or people living with HIV with heart or lung problems may be at a higher risk of becoming infected with the virus and suffering more serious symptoms. All people living with HIV should reach essential medicines and take all recommended preventive measure to minimize exposure and prevent infection of COVID-19.
If each of us commits in making positive changes in our families and communities, we can help to end the stigma and work to stop HIV together.
We can do our part to stop HIV stigma by being intentional and thoughtful when choosing our words, and choosing to use supportive―rather than stigmatizing―language when talking about HIV.
STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION TOWARDS ODHIV
HIV-related stigma is multilayered. It tends to build upon and reinforce negative conotation on HIV and AIDS with already-marginated behaviours. Many people view and generalize that their HIV-positive status is a result of having done something wrong, regardless of the background of the events that occur.
As a result, besides the burden of disease that must be borne, several issues they must face include:
- Fear of losing job
- Fear of transmitting HIV to the family member
- Fear of not getting access to health service or not getting any medicine, cause they need to move constantly to a different village (because of the discrimination)
- A feeling of worthlessness
Source
Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
