By Mzukona Mantshontsho
NEW LIFE CHURCH COSMO CITY held their World Aids Day commemoration on Sunday 3 December at 21 Sierra Leone Avenue, under the theme: “Let the Communities Lead”.
Head Pastor Samuel Tabe led with an appropriate verse: 3 John 2 – “Dear Friend, I pray that you may enjoy Good Health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well”.
World Aids Day globally is commemorated on 1 December, Pastor Tabe encouraged communities to continue fighting the stigma and creating awareness as the first step to ensuring a timely diagnosis. AIDS-related deaths have fallen by almost 70% since their peak in 2004, and new HIV infections are at the lowest since the 1980s. “Let us unite in awareness raising and educating our communities,” he insisted.
“Our survival recipe: A healthy body plus a healthy soul and healthy spirit results in a LONG LFE”, he added.
“Knowledge is Power, let us be knowledgeable about what HIV is and what AIDS is so we can help educate one another, our families, and communities to prevent the over 200,000 new infections according to a study done in 2019”: “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” – Hosea 4: 6.
Zama Nsele Cebekhulu encouraged the congregation not to leave the children behind with information, given the 47% children on antiretroviral treatment as opposed to 715 adults on antiretroviral treatment according to the same study. “Don’t leave the children behind, let us inform our children on what is HIV, what is AIDS, and how they got it, let’s not hide the information. Children are more resilient than we think,” she added.
What is HIV?
HIV is an infection that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It’s a virus that breaks down certain cells in the immune system (the body’s defence against diseases that helps a person stay healthy).
What causes HIV infections?
The infection is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus and is spread when blood, semen, or vaginal fluids from an infected person enter another person’s body, usually through sexual contact, from sharing needles when injecting drugs, or from mother to baby during birth.
How does HIV affect the human body?
The virus can survive and multiply in the human body and in doing so infects, and destroys, the CD4 cells of the immune system. This makes it more difficult to fight off other infections and certain cancers.
How is HIV treated?
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to treat HIV infection and may consist of a regimen of HIV medicines. These medicines work to reduce the amount of virus in the body thereby limiting destruction of immune cells. Reducing the amount of virus in the body can help to lessen the chance of transmission of HIV and reduce the risk of some cancers.
What is the link between HIV and cancer?
It is important for those living with HIV as well as healthcare providers to be aware of the symptoms of cancer, as HIV puts people at higher risk for cancer.
How can those with HIV lower their cancer risk?
“In order to lower personal risk of cancer and to promote early detection, PLWH should initiate ART early and adhere to ART to lower the risk of Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Early initiation of ART has been enabled by the Universal Test and Treat policy in South Africa which allows for initiation of ART regardless of CD4 count. Dedicated antiretroviral therapy (ART) compliance, adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and cutting out tobacco and alcohol are resulting in PLWH living a healthy and full life.
Additionally, cervical cancer screening in HIV-positive women should be done at HIV diagnosis, and every 3 years (yearly if screening test is positive) according to the recommendations of the SA Cervical Cancer Policy,” says Dr Melissa Wallace, Head of Research at CANSA.
