Many scientists have been working to develop a vaccine for HIV. However, there is little evidence of success yet.
Certain medicines can help maintain good health for people living with HIV or AIDS. Antibiotics, such as co-trimoxazole, help treat pneumonia, diarrhoea and skin infections. For fungal infections a solution of gentian violet can be applied directly to the skin. People with AIDS are very likely to become infected with tuberculosis (TB) and need effective treatment. For those who are in great pain or dying, drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen or codeine can help ease pain.
There are a number of drugs that can slow down the spread of HIV in the body. Unfortunately these are usually very expensive. They are also strong and sometimes make people feel ill. They are commonly known as anti-retrovirals, and there are several different types. When these drugs are used they must be taken regularly, and trained medical people must be available to provide support.
Providing these drugs to pregnant women who are living with HIV is particularly effective in preventing the virus from being passed on to their baby. Many countries hope to be able to provide these. However, providing anti-retroviral drugs for long-term care is not yet possible in most places.
Discussion
- Are anti-retroviral drugs available for pregnant women in our area? If not, could we consider writing as a group or organisation to the Ministry of Health and ask what they are providing? There are also a number of international agencies that are promoting this. Find out about which organisations may be able to help in our area.
- People with AIDS often have diarrhoea. It is important that they drink plenty of clean water and other fluids and keep eating small amounts of food. What kind of problems may be caused by the diarrhoea? How can the person be helped?
- Nausea is another common problem for people with AIDS. Tea made from ginger, mint or cinnamon can help reduce nausea and help them to continue eating small amounts of food. What else can help reduce nausea?
- People with dry coughs can be helped with a mixture of one spoon of honey, one spoon of lemon juice and one spoon of hot water. Are there any other traditional medicines for dry coughs in our area?
- How common is TB in our area? Is effective treatment available? (People with AIDS should not be given the drug thiacetazone to treat their TB.)
- Traditional healers may sometimes claim that they can cure AIDS. People may spend a lot of their limited money on such treatment, rather than on good food and medicines to keep them healthy. Is this something that happens in our area? Is this a good use of people’s money?
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