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What is HIV?

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The HIV virus attacks the body's immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off infections and diseases.

What is AIDS?

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a term used to describe the most advanced stages of HIV infection. Without treatment, people living with HIV may develop signs of AIDS within 8 to 10 years. The term AIDS was used a lot in the late 80’s and early 90’s because we didn’t know how to treat HIV then so sadly a lot of people developed AIDS and died. That’s no longer the case and people living with HIV can live as long as someone who does not have HIV.

Some people unknowingly live with HIV for many years and only discover their condition when they become seriously ill or are diagnosed with AIDS-related illnesses. By this time, the immune system is often severely damaged, and the person may be very unwell. However, HIV medication called antiretroviral therapy (ART) can help people recover from AIDS. It may take several months to years for them to regain full health.

How is HIV treated?

HIV can be treated and managed through HIV medications. When someone living with HIV takes HIV medications as prescribed, it can stop the virus from progressing and reduces the amount of detectable active virus in the blood. This is known as an Undetectable Viral Load.

Having an undetectable viral load means people’s immune system can recover and function normally. Because of this, HIV is now considered a manageable, chronic illness and no longer the scary death sentence it once was. It also has the added benefit of reducing the risk of passing HIV on to others.

How can HIV be passed on?

HIV cannot be passed on through day-to-day contact like hugging, kissing, sharing towels, toilet seats, sharing drink bottles, vapes or cigarettes, spitting, sneezing, or coughing or eating utensils so there is NO RISK to Kaimahi in our support role.

HIV can be passed on through:

  • Anal or vaginal sex (semen and vaginal fluids, anal mucus)
    When a person living with HIV is on HIV medication and has an undetectable viral load, the risk of passing on HIV is Zero.

  • Needle stick injuries in health-care settings
    HIV medication significantly reduces the risk of HIV being passed on in a hospital setting through a needle stick injury or contact. Anyone who has a needle stick injury needs to follow the PEP (HIV Post-exposure Prophylaxis) Guidelines

  • Sharing drug injection equipment, and blood transfusions
    In NZ we have strict screening of all blood products and a very successful needle exchange programme.

  • Between mother and infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
    This risk is reduced to less than 1% when the mother is on HIV medication and has an undetectable viral load.

Infection control

Using standard precautions when managing blood, bodily fluids, broken skin, and mucous membranes, will keep Kaimahi and the person being care safe, whether the person has HIV or not.

The majority of people who contracted HIV in Aotearoa got HIV through unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. The most affected population of people living with HIV in Aotearoa are men who have sex with men (MSM) but heterosexual men and women along with bi-sexual people, are also affected. HIV affects all nationalities and ethnicities.

Getting HIV from unprotected sex does not mean someone has many partners. It can happen from having sex just once if no protection is used.

Learn more about HIV - get certified!

There is a free online training course, developed in this country by the Positive Speakers’ Bureau, and suitable for anyone to do. It takes about two hours to work through the modules, scenarios, and an assessment, and you will receive a Certificate of Achievement and can gain professional education credits.

If you would like to know more about HIV, get certified and gain professional education credits, check out this free HIV Essentials online course