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”.
Zama Nsele Cebekhulu encouraged the congregation not to leave the children behind with information, given the 47% children on antiretroviral treatment as opposed to 71% 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.