What is HIV and AIDS?
What is HIV and AIDS?
What is HIV and AIDS?
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
ut it looks for signs that the body <strong>is</strong> fighting <strong>HIV</strong>. The body creates new<br />
antibodies between 2 <strong>and</strong> 12 weeks after being infected to try to fight off<br />
<strong>HIV</strong> <strong>and</strong> these are the signs that the body creates.<br />
6. Explain that even though the test could be negative, th<strong>is</strong> person <strong>is</strong> <strong>HIV</strong><br />
positive <strong>and</strong> <strong>is</strong> capable of passing on the virus. These three months are<br />
called the ‘window period’. If a result <strong>is</strong> negative, people are adv<strong>is</strong>ed to<br />
avoid r<strong>is</strong>ky behaviour <strong>and</strong> to take another test after another three months<br />
to see if the result changes.<br />
7. Say that it <strong>is</strong> impossible for ANTIBODIES to get rid of <strong>HIV</strong> once it <strong>is</strong> in the<br />
system. <strong>HIV</strong> remains in bodily fluid, which are the liquids found in the<br />
body. These are blood, semen, saliva, breast milk <strong>and</strong> vaginal fluid.<br />
8. Ask for one of the illnesses to re-enter the body. ANTIBODIES must try to<br />
push it back out of the circle. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> more difficult but it <strong>is</strong> still possible.<br />
Allow another illness to come into the circle <strong>and</strong> be pushed back out. Say<br />
that ANTIBODIES <strong>is</strong> very tired now...<br />
9. Say that the body can remain healthy for more than 12 years but the body<br />
<strong>is</strong> still more likely to get illnesses. Ask MALARIA to re-enter the system.<br />
Ask ANTIBODIES to try to fight him off. ANTIBODIES <strong>is</strong> tired <strong>and</strong><br />
MALARIA does not leave the system. Then ask TUBERCULOSIS to<br />
re-enter the circle too. ANTIBODIES cannot fight both off. Ask<br />
PNEUMONIA to re-enter the system too.<br />
10. State that now the body has <strong>AIDS</strong>. <strong>AIDS</strong> <strong>is</strong> a syndrome or a collection of<br />
illnesses which the body cannot break down. They can be different in<br />
each person. These illnesses are called ‘opportun<strong>is</strong>tic infections’ because<br />
they enter the body when the immune system has been weakened by<br />
<strong>HIV</strong>.<br />
11. Ask if anyone knows what the body could do to become stronger.<br />
12. Explain that the body can eat good food (fruit, vegetables) to strengthen<br />
the immune system. Say that the body needs to do exerc<strong>is</strong>e (ask the<br />
circle to walk around once to re-energize) <strong>and</strong> also needs to take lots of<br />
rest. Say that the body needs to have lots of friends around (ask each<br />
person in the body to say hi to the people on either side of them).<br />
13. Say that there <strong>is</strong> no cure for <strong>HIV</strong> but that drugs called ARVs can help<br />
strengthen the immune system. Ask for another volunteer to leave the<br />
circle. Give them the label ARVs.<br />
14. Ask ARVs to enter the body <strong>and</strong> give Antibodies a high five to re-energize<br />
him...<br />
15. Say that ARVs work by lowering the amount of <strong>HIV</strong> in the body <strong>and</strong><br />
increasing the number of antibodies. Say also that if you start to take<br />
ARVs you must take them for the rest of your life. If you stop taking ARVs<br />
it <strong>is</strong> extremely bad for the body. Ask ARVs to leave the body.<br />
16. Explain that <strong>HIV</strong> <strong>is</strong> even more powerful now <strong>and</strong> will cause a lot of<br />
damage to the body.<br />
17. Ask what they think would happen if the body was re-exposed to <strong>HIV</strong><br />
25
Change language