Health Education to Prevent HIV/AIDS & STIs - Department of ...

Department of Education TVET Division
HIV/AIDS & STI Teacher Guide
Lesson 2
By the end of this lesson students can…
1.1 State what HIV is and its origin
1.2 State what AIDS is and its symptoms
Resources:
a. Introduction (10 mins)
Ask students to tell a partner 3 things they already know about HIV. Hear some of
these. Introduce a question wall where students can write up questions to answer.
Say, “There are many stories about HIV. Some are true and some are false. In this
course you will learn accurate information and facts. Use your Resource Book to help
educate others.”
b. Main Activity (40 mins)
Explain,
• HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
• HIV belongs to the group of viruses or germs called the retroviruses. A
retrovirus is a weak virus which enters the body through a break in the skin.
• HIV attacks white blood cells in the immune system. These cells are
produced by the body to defend against any invading viruses or bacteria and
thus prevention infections.
• HIV is a natural virus that has been infecting humans since about 1930.
Recent research (Oct 2008) suggests HIV has been infecting humans for
almost 100 years. HIV originally came from Africa.
• Over 33 million people are infected with HIV around the world
• Over 60,000 people are infected with HIV in PNG
Ask the students to read the section on HIV (1.1) in their Resource Book and
underline the new information to them.
Ask them to discuss the Self Study task with their partner. Why did HIV spread
quickly around the world
Say, “HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV and AIDS are not the same thing.”
• AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.
• AIDS refers to the group of diseases that an HIV-infected person becomes
sick with when their immune system is damaged by HIV
• These infections are called opportunistic infections because they take
advantage of the weakened immune system.
• The symptoms of AIDS are like the symptoms of other illnesses (rapid weight
loss, persistent cough, persistent diarrhoea, fatigue, fever and sores that
won’t heal) so the only way to know if you or anybody else is infected with
HIV is to have an HIV test.
• You can have HIV and not have AIDS. You can live for many years with HIV
and look and feel healthy. AIDS is when HIV has worn down your immune
system and other illnesses attack you.
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