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What every family and community has a right to know about
HIV/AIDS
1. AIDS is an incurable but preventable disease. HIV, the virus that
causes AIDS, spreads through unprotected sex (intercourse without a
condom), transfusions of unscreened blood, contaminated needles and
syringes (most often those used for injecting drugs), and from an
infected woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or
breastfeeding.
2. All people, including children, are at risk for HIV/AIDS.
Everyone needs information and education about the disease and access
to condoms to reduce this risk.
3. Anyone who suspects that he or she might be infected with HIV
should contact a health worker or an HIV/AIDS centre to receive
confidential counselling and testing.
4. The risk of getting HIV through sex can be reduced if people
don't have sex, if they reduce the number of sex partners, if
uninfected partners have sex only with each other, or if people have
safer sex — sex without penetration or while using a condom. Correct
and consistent use of
condoms can save lives by preventing the spread of HIV.
5. Girls are especially vulnerable to HIV infection and need support
to protect themselves and be protected against unwanted and unsafe
sex.
6. Parents and teachers can help young people protect themselves
from HIV/AIDS by talking with them about how to avoid getting and
spreading the disease, including the correct and consistent use of male
or female condoms.
7. HIV infection can be passed from a mother to her child during
pregnancy or childbirth or through breastfeeding.
Pregnant women or new mothers who are infected with HIV, or suspect
that they are infected, should consult a qualified health worker to
seek testing and counselling.
8. HIV can be spread by unsterilized needles or syringes, most often
those used for injecting drugs. Used razor blades, knives or tools that
cut or pierce the skin also carry some risk of spreading HIV.
9.People who have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) are at
greater risk of getting HIV and of spreading HIV to others. People with
STIs should seek prompt treatment and avoid sexual intercourse or
practice safer sex (non-penetrative sex or sex using a condom).
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