#humanimmunodeficiencyvirus

“It is bad enough people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of IGNORANCE”

HIV stands for Human Immuno Deficiency Virus that is responsible for damaging the immune system of the body. HIV virus infects and kills the CD4 cells which are also known as T cells. These cells aid the human body in fighting with the viruses causing the diseases and the infections. It can be transmitted through the following ways:

Blood

Semen

Vaginal & rectal fluids

Breast milk

HIV progresses through the following 3 stages:

Acute Stage means the very first few weeks after the transmission of the virus.

Clinical latency or the chronic stage means the symptoms of the first stage still persists in the body from the very long time.

AIDS stands for the Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. It is known as the advanced stage of HIV infection. At this stage the immune system of the body become too weak to fight with the diseases and the infections. The life expectancy is of only 3 years.

How HIV spreads from one person to the other?

During breast feeding

Through sexual contact

By sharing the tattoo equipments without sterilizing

By sharing needles, syringes & other items of injecting drugs

During pregnancy, labor or delivering the baby

Through exposure to the blood of someone living with HIV

SYMPTOMS:

Acute HIV (primary infection)

Fever

Headache

Muscle & joint pain

Sore throat

Painful mouth sores

Swollen lymph glands (mainly on the neck)

Chronic HIV (clinical latent infection)

No specific signs & symptoms

Persistent swelling of lymph nodes

This stage lasts around 10 years

Symptomatic HIV Infection

Fever

Oral yeast infection

Fatigue

Swollen lymph nodes

Diarrhea

Weight loss

RISK FACTORS:

Have unprotected sex

Use of intravenous drugs

An uncircumcised man

Have an STI

“HomoeoCARE provides the proper knowledge & the action to ensure the cure for HIV/AIDS”

It can boost up not only physical health but mental health too.

It can combat opportunistic infections very effectively.

It helps in improving the quality of life.

It helps in modulating the immunity of the AIDS patient.

WE CARE FOR YOU

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” 

Those words from John Shed always stand as a referee every time the truth of my work sinks in—the truth that it’s risky, it’s jam-packed with biohazards and it spells the word ‘unsafe’.

Metaphorically, as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, I could be idle and escape the risks just like a ship in harbor. But the ocean is waiting for me to send me to places its waves would gladly go. Yes, because I believe the Lord did not put me in this field in vain. He wants me to fulfill the purpose for which He has called me to do right from where He has placed me in—to sail far in this big ocean of His ministry of healing.

One pleasant sail I can vividly recall was my HIV Proficiency experience. At first, I asked “Am I really doing this?” Because I know it would ask a lot from me: commitment, risks, time and all. Nevertheless, it has taught me a lot—beyond all doubts and apprehensions. Indeed, there’s so much more to this profession than just complete blood count and platelets and random sugars and urinalysis. It requires more than just getting samples, running the tests and releasing of results. It speaks more than just healing. It speaks more than just cure. I’m telling you there’s so much more behind the scenes.

Being an HIV Proficient entails huge responsibility. It needs a compassionate heart for people who are struggling with this slayer: Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It needs a strong heart to fight pity, blame and revulsion. I can quite testify ‘cause every time I tell a patient that the result’s positive I was always holding back tears, fighting hard to control any emotion that would not be, in any way, helpful.

Along with that are the risks and biohazards, of course. But, one thing I learned: literally, there’s no such thing as a safe place here on earth. Risks are everywhere. Just walking down the street is risky—a car may hit you. You can sleep and not wake up. You can live with a good lifestyle yet still acquire a disease. What I simply mean here is that anything can happen anytime and anywhere. This world is not safe. Life, itself, is full of uncertainties. The safest thing we know can be the most dangerous thing our life can have. All we can do is pray and trust the One who is able to take control of our lives.

To me, doing all these risky stuffs is fulfilling. I’d rather take the risks my whole life and do what the Lord tells me to do than just be a ship in harbor—an idle and lonely place. Because the truth stands that a ship in harbor is not safe at all. It can burn anytime. It can sink anytime. It can be destroyed there anytime. So I’d rather sail and go to places and serve my purpose than suffer the risks of idleness. :)

~~>Sharing with you here a glimpse of that journey<~~

Organizers, lecturers, guests and participants of the “Training on HIV Proficiency for Selected Medical Technologists in CDOC” last May 18-25, 2014

Several lectures, short quizzes and long tests.(My batch-mates are taking it seriously. Yay!)

Laboratory activities and actual execution of the tests. (We have done not just HIV test but also HBV, HCV and Syphilis Tests)

One of the tests I truly enjoyed doing was this ImmunoComb Test for Hepatitis C Virus or HCV. (A comb indeed!)

My teammates! (messy space ha)

Our mentors during the Closing Ceremony.

Let’s sail through with more to come.

Ciao,