What is HIV and AIDS?

are present. Since white blood cells are hosts for HIV, it means that more
virus can be transmitted or received when the discharge is present. Quick and
proper treatment of STDs and immediate referral of partners can be important
strategies for HIV prevention. Often women do not have apparent symptoms
of sexually transmitted diseases, so check-ups and partner referrals are very
important. But men, too, may occasionally not have symptoms, even of
Gonorrhea; so, it is important that the man seek treatment also if his partner is
infected and avoid blaming partners for infection.
30 minutes STD Game:
1. Tape the names of STDs along the top of the board or in a line on the
floor.
2. Write the common/popular names for the diseases at the bottom of the
cards.
3. Split the group into smaller groups and assign them the name of one
disease.
4. Lay the symptom cards out randomly on the floor.
5. Ask each group to find the symptoms associated with their disease and
line them up in a column underneath the wall/other part of the floor.
6. Once the groups have finished, discuss the cards and correct any
misplaced cards.
30 minutes Lead a discussion on the following questions:
a) Where do people in our community go to get treated for STDs?
b) Which of these places is the best place to get treated? Why?
c) Are people afraid to seek treatment for STDs? Why?
d) Why is it important to get treated early for an STD?
e) Why is it important that your partners get treated?
f) How can we tell someone that they have been exposed to an STD
without blaming them or getting hurt ourselves?
30 minutes Role-play. Split the group into pairs. Give each group one of the two situations
and ask them to role-play.
Situation 1) a male partner informs his female partner that she needs to get
treated for gonorrhea because he is having symptoms of that disease.
Situation 2) a female partner tell her male partner that he needs to get treated
for syphilis because she just learned in her prenatal exam that she has that
disease.
Bring the group back together. Evaluate how the situations went. Were they
realistic? Did they achieve the desired outcome, willingness of the partner to
get tested? Did partners feel blamed? Are there other ways to reveal this
news that would have been more effective at getting the desired outcome?
10-15 minutes Summary – explain that STD’s greatly increase your risk of HIV transmission.
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