HIV and AIDS LO: to explore what is HIV and AIDS, and to be able to explain how it transmitted,

True or False You can catch HIV or AIDS from: –Drinking from a water fountain –Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV –Hugging, kissing, or shaking hands with someone who is HIV-positive –Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment –Breathing the same air as someone who is HIV- positive –Touching a toilet seat or doorknob handle after an HIV-positive person

HIV the facts HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The virus slowly multiplies inside the body and eventually destroys the body's ability to fight off illnesses. People with HIV can then develop AIDs. AIDs stands for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is a serious condition which attacks the immune system - which is what stops your body from getting ill. People with Aids can die after developing different kinds of disease or illness which the body would normally fight off by itself for example, a cold or pneumonia.

Story Time Read through the comic Why do you think the ‘father’ assumed his ‘daughter’ caught AIDS in Africa?

Did you know? Over a quarter of people with HIV in the UK don’t know they are infected. One in 20 gay men in the UK is living with HIV. For someone diagnosed today at 35, the average age of diagnosis in the UK, life expectancy is over 72. The most common treatment today for someone diagnosed with HIV early is one pill, once or twice a day. Lots of people with HIV work and their HIV does not affect their working life. With the right medical help, the vast majority (approximately 99 per cent) of HIV positive women can give birth to healthy uninfected babies. There is no known case of HIV ever being transmitted at school yet some schools in the UK still refuse to accept children with HIV. HIV affects all ages. One in six people living with HIV in the UK are over 50. Last year one in ten people diagnosed were aged 16 to 24.

So how can you get HIV and AIDS

So how can you protect yourself? As a group think about the different ways that someone could protect themselves from HIV and then AIDS,

Abstinence It is the only 100 % effective method of not acquiring HIV/AIDS. Refraining from sexual contact: oral, anal, or vaginal. Refraining from intravenous drug use

Monogamous relationship A mutually monogamous (only one sex partner) relationship with a person who is not infected with HIV HIV testing before intercourse is necessary to prove your partner is not infected

Protected Sex Use condoms (female or male) every time you have sex (vaginal or anal) Always use latex or polyurethane condom (not a natural skin condom) Always use a latex barrier during oral sex

How does HIV and AIDS affect people? Comic Relief work every year to help people who are infected with HIV and AIDS to live a healthier, happier, longer life. y_helps/by_issue/international This tells you more about living with HIV and AIDS

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