HIV is not a death sentence

The aim of this article is to educate people about HIV and AIDS. Awareness is the best tool to fight the spread of this virus. Weather you are "healthy" or a Person Living with HIV (PLWHIV) this is for you. What you will find here are facts and references on how we, together CAN fight the stigma.

What is HIV?

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus.HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, then causes the deadly AIDS, if not treated.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS "is a condition characterized by a combination of signs and symptoms caused by HIV. It makes the afflicted individual susceptible to other life threatening infections." It is the most severe phase of HIV infection. People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number of severe illnesses, called opportunistic infections.

What are the stages of HIV infection?

Stage 1 Acute HIV infection
Stage 2 Clinical Latency (HIV inactivity or dormancy)
Stage 3 AIDS

Click on this link to know more about the stages of HIV infection.

Is there a cure for HIV?

NO. No effective cure currently exists for HIV. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy or ART. If taken the right way, every day, ART can dramatically prolong the lives of many people infected with HIV, keep them healthy, and greatly lower their chance of infecting others.

Click here to see the list of MYTHS about HIV

If you are infected by HIV, it is not the end of the world yet. By taking ART you can still live a long life. Click here for tips on how you can continue to strengthen you immune system.

Here are the three things that you need to know about HIV treatment.

ART can't cure HIV
These medicines and are taken everyday to prevent HIV from advancing to AIDS
HIV medicine reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

Click here for more info.

How can HIV be transmitted?

Unprotected sex
From an infected mother for her child
Contaminated needles
Blood products

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Four Principles of HIV & STI transmission

The four principles of HIV transmission can help providers and patients assess the level of risk of different sexual practices for HIV infection. In order for HIV transmission to occur, all four principles of HIV transmission are needed.

EXIT – the virus must exit the body infected person
SURVIVE – the virus must be in conditions in which it can survive
SUFFICIENT – there must be sufficient quantities of the virus present to cause infection
ENTER – the virus must enter the bloodstream

Does the Philippines Constitution have provisions about HIV?

YES! it is called Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998. Click on the link for more info

Be fully informed! Know the ABCDE of to fight HIV.