fbpx
Advertisement
  • Home
  • World News
    UK to ban TikTok on gov’t phones

    UK to ban TikTok on gov’t phones

    UK plans to ease visa policy amid labour shortages

    UK plans to ease visa policy amid labour shortages

    White House applauds bill seeking TikTok ban

    White House applauds bill seeking TikTok ban

    Brazil’s biggest serial killer shot dead

    Brazil’s biggest serial killer shot dead

    Over 1,300 killed as powerful quake rocks Turkey, Syria

    Over 1,300 killed as powerful quake rocks Turkey, Syria

  • Politics
    • All
    • Politics Roundup
    State chairmen reject Wike’s camp anti-Ayu plot

    PDP crisis: I’ll fight you till I leave office, Wike tells Ayu

    Five things to know about Damagum, acting PDP chairman

    Five things to know about Damagum, acting PDP chairman

    2023: Peter Obi unveils Datti Baba-Ahmed as running mate

    APC Chieftain mocks Obi/Datti, says rigging claims illogical

    PDP crisis: Ayu steps aside as chairman, Damagum takes over

    PDP crisis: Ayu steps aside as chairman, Damagum takes over

    The fight has just started, Wike tells Ayu

    The fight has just started, Wike tells Ayu

    • Politics Roundup
  • Business
    • All
    • Exclusive Economy
    The reversing gear of inflation in Nigeria’s economy

    CBN MPC increases interest rate to 18%

    Muhammad Nami’s Midas touch: FIRS collects N5.03trn as revenue

    N10.1trn tax revenue: FIRS has again broken the jinx

    Tax harmonisation: FIRS signs MoU with LIRS for Joint Tax Operations and Audit

    Tax harmonisation: FIRS signs MoU with LIRS for Joint Tax Operations and Audit

    FIRS may lose N92bn revenue on VAT judgment to state

    FIRS makes FAAC Fat

    We’ll leverage on 2021 Finance Act to achieve adequate budget funding – FIRS

    Nami’s magic wand: Restructuring revenue collection in Nigeria

    • Exclusive Economy
  • Health
    Why infertility rate rising drastically —Gynaecologist

    Why infertility rate rising drastically —Gynaecologist

    Harmattan aids COVID-19 spread -Expert

    10,000 COVID-19 deaths recorded in one week, says WHO

    Resident doctors to NASS: ban govt officials from seeking healthcare abroad

    NARD to FG, others: Prevail on Ikpeazu to pay doctors’ 25-month salary arrears

    Covid-19 isolation centres remain open in Ekiti – Govt

    Lassa fever killed 189, infected 63 health workers – NCDC

    LivingScience Foundation opposes NAFDAC’s tolerance of mercury-containing childhood vaccines in Nigeria

    LivingScience Foundation opposes NAFDAC’s tolerance of mercury-containing childhood vaccines in Nigeria

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Big Brother Naija
    • Film
    Nollywood actor, Fadeyi Oloro, is dead

    Nollywood actor, Fadeyi Oloro, is dead

    EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu’s ‘walk of peace’ invite a joke, disrespectful —Falz

    2023: Singer Falz urges Nigerians youths to cast their vote on saturday

    Veteran actress Maureen Okpoko loses sight, cries out

    Veteran actress Maureen Okpoko loses sight, cries out

    Court grants actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyi N5m bail

    Court grants actress, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyi N5m bail

    2023: Mr Macaroni vows he’ll never vote APC, PDP

    Mr Macaroni speaks about his picture on LP flyer, says he didn’t approve it

  • Sport
    AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles get revenge against Guinea-Bissau to go top of group

    AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles get revenge against Guinea-Bissau to go top of group

    Another low for Peseiro as Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria in historic win

    Another low for Peseiro as Guinea-Bissau beat Nigeria in historic win

    ABS FC unveil 30 players for new NNL season, focus on NPFL ticket

    ABS FC unveil 30 players for new NNL season, focus on NPFL ticket

    Osimhen, down with COVID-19, pulls out of AFCON crackers

    Napoli slap £150m price tag on Osimhen – Report

    NFF explains situation with Super Eagles’ technical crew, says nobody was sacked

    NFF explains situation with Super Eagles’ technical crew, says nobody was sacked

  • Editorial
    Sultan, CAN Sign Peace Pact over 2023 general elections

    2023 general elections: Our concerns

    2023: Court directs INEC to react to fresh lawsuit seeking Tinubu’s disqualification

    TINUBU: A CAT WITH MANY LIVES

    2023, ATIKU AND THE CONSPIRACIES

    2023, ATIKU AND THE CONSPIRACIES

    Atiku, With Wike dine together in London

    Govs’ political jamboree in London scandalous

    Herdsmen crisis: Buhari doesn’t understand how grave the situation is – Soyinka

    Soyinka sails Pyrates out of Emi lokan sea

    • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Art
    • Beauty and wellness
    • Culture
    • Fashion and Style
    • Food
    • Love & relationship
    • Travel
    Join corruption fight, your future depends on it, Osinbajo tells Nigerian youths

    Join corruption fight, your future depends on it, Osinbajo tells Nigerian youths

    TK delivers masterclass at Crescent University

    TK delivers masterclass at Crescent University

    Teenage pregnancy in Africa and parenting: men get spared while ignorant, vulnerable women are speared

    Teenage pregnancy in Africa and parenting: men get spared while ignorant, vulnerable women are speared

    Unveiled: The Katsina politician named Tinubu’s running mate

    2023: Wike will work, help Tinubu win presidential election – Masari

    You want to live long? Get a second wife, study says

    You want to live long? Get a second wife, study says

    Yewa Paramount Ruler installs Odunaro Majeobaje Olu Ilaro Saturday

    Yewa Paramount Ruler installs Odunaro Majeobaje Olu Ilaro Saturday

    Ogun Eid-il-Fitr special prayers in pictures

    Ogun Eid-il-Fitr special prayers in pictures

    Nigeria’s deadly marriages: How 49 husbands, wives were killed in 15 months

    Nigeria’s deadly marriages: How 49 husbands, wives were killed in 15 months

    US hints on new Lassa fever vaccine trial in Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone

    US govt praises documentation of Osun Osogbo Sacred Groove

    10th Coronation Anniversary: Yewa Christians, Muslims hold special services for Olu Ilaro

    10th Coronation Anniversary: Yewa Christians, Muslims hold special services for Olu Ilaro

    • Travel
    • Pop culture
      Nigeria’s tech industry: where are the women?

      Nigeria’s tech industry: where are the women?

      Big Brother Naija: What 8 Nigerians think about this controversial show

      Big Brother Naija: What 8 Nigerians think about this controversial show

      nigerian youth

      A Simple Guide to Being an Angry Nigerian Youth

      Big brother naija

      Big Brother Naija Lockdown Reunion: A Recipe for Embarrassment

      chimamanda

      What Chimamanda Adichie’s Essay Says about Social Media Performativity and Conformity

      united african republic

      United African Republic: What is in a Name?

      Twitter is our 911: The Myth of Democracy in Nigeria

      Twitter is our 911: The Myth of Democracy in Nigeria

      THE COVID-19 SERIES

      Tech in Nigeria? Please

      Tech in Nigeria? Please

    • Love & relationship
    • Food
    • Fashion and Style
    • Culture
    • Beauty and wellness
    • Art
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Health and wellness

World AIDS Day: HIV prevention drug no one talks about

by Chika Osuji
December 1, 2021
in Health and wellness
Reading Time: 5min read
0
World AIDS Day: HIV prevention drug no one talks about
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

RelatedPosts

10 foods to avoid after 40

Can’t go to the Gym? Do these 10 minutes exercise at home

Lung cancer awareness month: Do away with the cigarette!!

HIV/AIDS was one time the most dreaded disease in the world. in fact, you can say it was a pandemic. It is believed that HIV originated in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo In 1920, there was an unknown number of deaths, undocumented symptoms and causes of deaths. The name of the disease was formally called gay-related immune deficiency (GIRD) because the people who were first infected were gay men. AIDS was officially used in the early 1980s and the disease was an automatic death sentence before the advent of antiretroviral drugs. To this day, Huge numbers of people are still being infected and killed by HIV/AIDS and it seems like no one is talking about it anymore. I bet you probably don’t know so much about HIV /AIDS. If you know a thing or two, that’s great. But if you don’t, let’s do a quick recon of what HIV/AIDS is and the latest preventive measures against HIV/AIDS.

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This is a virus that attacks cells that protect the immune system thereby making the person vulnerable to attacks and infections. If HIV is left untreated it can progress to become AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). So far, there has been no proven cure for HIV/AIDS although there are preventive drugs and measures to help manage the disease especially when it’s still at the HIV stage. Antiretroviral drugs also help when it’s at the AIDS level but this comes with more health challenges. Once a person is confirmed to have HIV, it stays with the individual for life but there’s some hope that in the nearest future there will be a cure or a vaccine for AIDS. The life expectancy of an individual with AIDS is 3 years without  Antiretroviral drugs, HIV destroys the immune system, leaving the body porous to attacks and opportunistic diseases. If by chance this individual has one of these opportunistic diseases, the life expectancy is reduced to 1 year. This is pretty terrible!

How does one get HIV?

HIV is transmitted through

 i. Unprotected sex with an infected person

ii.  Sharing blades and sharp objects used by an infected person  

Iii. During childbirth and breastfeeding (mother to child). 

When the HIV virus gets into the blood, it begins to attack the immune system and replicates very fast then spreads throughout the body. If your immune system is strong enough to stop the virus from replicating, then the virus will not progress to infect the rest of the body.

When we talk about HIV prevention, people will be like, yeah we’ve heard enough of it

  • Don’t have indiscriminate unprotected sex, use a condom
  • Don’t share needles, whether you are doing drugs or going to the salon to make or cut your hair
  • If you have to share needles and clippers, ensure to sterilize them. 

These are the loudest preventive measures but there’s a preventive measure that most people call the best-kept secret. I mean… I was also surprised when I heard a bunch of my male friends talking about it, it’s called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). It sounded pretty interesting and I was curious so I let them talk about it before I did any research. (they are randy guys by the way) So they talked about how they no longer have to bother about contracting HIV as long as they have a regular supply of the meds and keep on taking them. 

This is fantastic news in so many ways but not a license to have indiscriminate unprotected sex because although it may protect you from HIV, it won’t stop you from contracting other sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. PrRP offers infected people a chance for a better life with a healthy partner without any fear of infecting them which means less stigmatization for people living with HIV. 

What is PrEP

Let’s talk about PrEP for a bit, how it works, dosage and accessibility. 

PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis, an HIV prevention option that works by taking it daily. It provides a high level of protection for people who don’t have HIV from getting it, especially when combined with condoms.

The body is protected by CD4-t cells, it protects the immune system and helps the body fight off invaders, when an HIV virus gets into the body, it attacks those cells and uses them to make more copies of itself, as many as 7 billion copies per day, like what?? That’s huge! These 7 billion viruses go into the body to make their own ‘disciples’, at this rate, the immune system is not able to keep up with this replication hence the HIV infection. But when PrEP is in this equation, taking PrEP every day builds extra protection on the CD4-t cells, when the virus attacks the cell, it will be unable to penetrate which means it has nowhere to build its 7billion ‘army’ and the virus is destroyed outside the CD4-t cell.

PrEP should be taken daily to build maximum protection and protection is guaranteed from 1 week after the medication begins. Prep is safe if taken as prescribed.

The purpose of world aids day every 1st of December annually is to create more awareness about this age-old disease, show support for people living with it and find ways to curb the spread and infection rate, that’s why this year of world AIDS day is themed end inequalities, end aids. We can stop the spread of HIV if more people don’t get infected by taking preventive care seriously both pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis  ( PrEP and PEP).

Takeaway 

HIV can make one very sick and even cause death.  Take these preventive measures listed above and always take a test if you are at risk of contracting the virus, early treatment stops the spread of the virus within the body and stops the progression to AIDS. People who take their HIV meds live full long lives like every other person and if you are not told, you can never know they are HIV positive. In this age of technology and brilliant scientists, no one should die from HIV and AIDS anymore. Don’t be afraid to get tested, take pre-exposure and post-exposure pills.

Show support for this day by wearing a red ribbon and sharing this article. Also, see where you can get PrEP near you or ask your doctor.

Share218Tweet136Share55
Chika Osuji

Chika Osuji

Chika is a Fitness enthusiast, Interior Designer and Lifestyle blogger/Vlogger. Post on Health and Wellness are Medically reviewed by Dr Emmanuel Owie of LUTH

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
10 most followed Nigerian comedians, skit makers on Instagram, Twitter

10 most followed Nigerian comedians, skit makers on Instagram, Twitter

May 22, 2021
Minors’ viral sex tape: Lagos govt closes Chrisland School indefinitely

Minors’ viral sex tape: Lagos govt closes Chrisland School indefinitely

April 18, 2022
Chief Onyechi bags Doctorate degree from Benin Republic university

Chief Onyechi bags Doctorate degree from Benin Republic university

April 18, 2022
Five benefits of sleeping more

Five benefits of sleeping more

3
Court orders Nnamdi Kanu remand in DSS custody

Court orders Nnamdi Kanu remand in DSS custody

3
No fewer than 109 foreigners from Benin Republic have been arrested by operatives of the Gombe State Police Command for alleged illegal entry into Nigeria.

Police nab kidnappers for trying to abduct lawyers, others

3
Ayu to presidential aspirants: ‘zoning has come to stay in PDP’

Ayu’s suspension illegal – PDP PCC

March 28, 2023
“Nigeria College of Taxation and Fiscal Studies” Bill passes second reading

Cash crunch: NLC, TUC shift strike by two weeks

March 28, 2023
State chairmen reject Wike’s camp anti-Ayu plot

PDP crisis: I’ll fight you till I leave office, Wike tells Ayu

March 28, 2023
First News NG

Copyright © 2022 First Media Networks Limited

Site Navigation

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
  • Politics
    • Politics Roundup
  • Business
    • Exclusive Economy
  • Health
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Editorial
    • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Pop culture
    • Love & relationship
    • Food
    • Fashion and Style
    • Culture
    • Beauty and wellness
    • Art

Copyright © 2022 First Media Networks Limited