SUARA UNICEF OFFICIAL WEBSITE

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIV/AIDS

In the United States, over 600,000 reported cases of AIDS have been recorded since 1981 and it is believed that 900,000 Americans may be infected with HIV. Although development time varies from individual to individual, since 1992 scientists have estimated that roughly half of the people living with HIV will develop AIDS within 10 years of becoming infected. AIDS is growing most rapidly among minority populations, as well as women and injection drug users. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of AIDS is six times higher in African-Americans and three times higher among Hispanics than among whites.
AIDS was first reported in the United States in 1981 and HIV was first identified in 1983, however, studies of stored blood samples indicate that HIV first entered the U.S. population in the late 1970s. Recently, there has been an overall stabilization in the emergence of new AIDS cases in the United States, however, worldwide the epidemic continues to rage, particularly in developing countries and the African continent. According to the NIAID, an estimated 30.6 million globally were living with HIV/AIDS as of December 1997 and the figure was projected to reach 40 million by the year 2000 -- more than 75% of adult infections were as a result of heterosexual contact.

What is HIV?
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that leads to AIDS. HIV belongs to a subset of retroviruses called lentiviruses (or slow viruses), which means that there is an interval -- sometimes years -- between the initial infection and the onset of symptoms. Upon entering the bloodstream -- through mucous membranes or blood-to-blood contact -- HIV infects the CD4+T cells and begins to replicate rapidly.
Scientists believe that when the virus enters the body, HIV begins to disable the body's immune system by using the body's aggressive immune responses to the virus to infect, replicate and kill immune system cells. Gradual deterioration of immune function and eventual destruction of lymphoid and immunologic organs is central to triggering the immunosuppression that leads to AIDS.

What is AIDS?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of HIV infection. The Centers for Disease Control establish the definition of AIDS, which occurs in HIV-infected persons with fewer than 200 CD4+T cells and/or persons with HIV who develop certain opportunistic infections. In 1992, the CDC redefined AIDS to include 26 CDC-defined AIDS indicator illnesses and clinical conditions that affect persons with advanced HIV.

What is a retrovirus?
A retrovirus is any of a group of viruses that contain two single-strand linear RNA molecules per virion, which means it carries its genetic blueprint in the form of ribonucleic acid (RNA) instead of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Additionally, the enzyme reverse transcriptase is employed to copy its genome into the DNA of the host cell's chromosomes. Usually the cellular process involves transcription of DNA into RNA. Reverse transcriptase makes it possible for genetic material to become permanently incorporated into the DNA genome of an infected cell.

What is the distinction between HIV and AIDS?
AIDS is a disease developed by a person living with HIV, which is a viral organism. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. Although an HIV-positive test result does not mean that a person has AIDS, most people will develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection.
There are four main stages in the progression of an HIV infected person developing AIDS. The period following the initial HIV infection is called the window period. It is called this because this period reflects the window of time between infection with the virus and when HIV antibodies develop in the bloodstream. An HIV test that looks for antibodies taken during this time can result in a false negative, though antibodies usually appear within six months of the initial infection.
Seroconversion refers to the period of time during which your body is busy producing HIV antibodies, trying to protect itself against the virus. This is the period after the initial infection when many people experience flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes – this is a highly infectious stage.
After most people seroconvert, they usually experience a symptom-free period or asymptomatic period. This stage can last anywhere from 6 months to over 10 years, varying from person to person. Although the person with HIV is experiencing no symptoms, the virus is still replicating inside the body and weakening the immune system.
After this period, severe CD4+T cell loss leads to the symptomatic period, in which the body experiences the symptoms associated with HIV. This is the final stage before developing AIDS.

What are CD4+T cells?
CD4+T cells are the immune system's key infection fighters and the entity that allows HIV to enter, attach and infect the body's immune system. The CD4+T cells (also called T4 cells) are disabled and destroyed by the virus, often with no symptoms, causing a significant decrease in the blood levels of T4 cells. In the advanced stages of HIV, the body may have fewer than 200 T4 cells, while a healthy adult's count is 1,000 or more. In this way, the body's immune system is continuously weakened from the moment of infection and the inability of the immune system to fight infection opens the door to opportunistic infections.

What are opportunistic infections?
According to the CDC, AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses are the major cause of morbidity and mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Opportunistic infections are a result of the weakened immune system present in persons with HIV/AIDS. An infection takes the "opportunity" provided by the weakened immune system to cause an illness that is usually controlled by a healthy immune system. These infections are sometimes life-threatening and require medical intervention to prevent or treat serious illnesses. Persons living with advanced HIV infection suffer opportunistic infections of the lungs, brain, eyes and other organs. The 26 CDC-defined AIDS indicator illnesses are opportunistic infections. There are medical treatments that can slow the rate at which the immune system is weakened and early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative care.

How is HIV transmitted?
HIV infection most commonly occurs through sexual contact. However, the virus can also be spread through blood-to-blood contact -- such as sharing needles or blood transfusions involving unscreened blood. Studies have shown that HIV is not transmitted through casual contact such as touching or sharing towels, bedding, utensils, telephones, swimming pools, or toilet seats. Scientists have also found no evidence of transmission through kissing, sweat, tears, urine or feces. It is important to acknowledge that it is not sex that transmits HIV, but certain bodily fluids: blood, semen (including "pre-cum"), vaginal secretions and breast milk. High-risk behaviors that can result in HIV transmission are sharing needles for drugs, tattoos, body piercing, vitamins or steroids with an HIV-infected person and/or engaging in unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex with a person who is HIV infected. The virus also can be transmitted from an HIV-infected mother to her child through pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.
It does appear that persons already infected with a sexually transmitted disease are more susceptible to acquiring HIV during sex with an infected partner. Mucous membranes, a weak point in the skin, include the lips, mouth, vagina, vulva, penis or rectum. Because mucous membranes are porous and viruses and other pathogens are able to pass through, these areas are rich in immune cells. When a person already has a sexually transmitted disease, sex organs may be flooded with CD4+T cells, making it much easier for HIV to infect.
The only way to determine HIV infection is to be tested for the virus. It is not unusual for HIV-infected persons to experience symptoms years after the initial infection; some may be symptom free for over 10 years. However, during the asymptomatic period, the virus is actively multiplying and destroying cells in the immune system, weakening the body's ability to fight infection. The effect is most keenly observed in the decline of the immune system's key infection fighters in the blood, the CD4+T cells. There are medical treatments that can reduce the rate at which HIV disables the immune system; early detection offers more options for treatment and preventative care. As a matter of safety, people who engage in high-risk behaviors -- such as intravenous drug use or having unprotected

January 05, 2009

PROGRAM YOUTH '09

Program : Youth '09
Tempat : PWTC, Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh : 9 - 11 Januari 2009
Antara program menarik:
-talents -foosball player
-photographers -fittness fanatic
-3on3 basketball -futsal
-fashion stars -extreme street dance
-grafitti -celebrity session
-leaders -creative designers
-jobseekers

Sila dapatkan pas masuk percuma anda di
http://www.youth09.com

PROGRAM HIV 101

salam kepada semua ahli skuad =]
aktiviti terbaru nih...
Program : HIV 101
Tempat : SMK Seasciele,Bangsar,Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh : 21 Januari 2009]
Target : Pelajar tingkatan 4 dan 5 SMK Seasciele

Kepada ahli skuad yang berminat,sila feetback mesej ini atau cornfirmkan nama anda pada MOHAMAD KHAIRUL ADHA BIN ABU BAKAR (adik aD) di talian 0179813438/0132847469 secepat mungkin..
terima kasih..

December 29, 2008

DOA AGAR TERHINDAR DARI BERBAGAI KEJAHATAN

اللَّـهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَوَاتِ السَّبْعِ و رَبَّ الأَرْضِ، وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ وَالفُرْقَانِ، أَعُوذُبِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ، اللَّـهُمَّ أَنْتَ الأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ، و أَنْتَ َالآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ، وَ أَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ، إِقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنِ، وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الفَقْرِ

Ya Allah , Tuhan langit yang tujuh, tuhan bumi, tuhan arasy yang agung, Tuhan kami dan Tuhansegala sesuatu , pembelah biji dan benih , tuhan yang menurunkan taurat , injil dan al-Furqan ( al-Quran ), aku berlindung kepadaMu dari segala kejahatan yang Engkau pegang ubun-ubunnya, ya Allah engkaulah yang pertama tiada sesuatu sebelumMu, Engkaulah yang paling akhir, tiada sesuatupun sesudahMu. Engkaulah yang Zahir, tiada sesuatu yang lebih hebat dariMu, dan Engkaulah yang batin, tiada sesuatupun yang tersembunyi dariMu, tunaikanlah hutang kami dan cukupkanlah keperluan kami

December 27, 2008

Mandatory HIV testing does more harm than good

Kuala Lumpur, 18th December 2008: The announcement today by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to extend nationwide pre-marital HIV testing for all Muslims in Malaysia is alarming. Scaling up HIV counselling and testing services is a critical step for scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. Knowing your HIV status is a crucial part of managing HIV but the manner in which this is done is of the utmost importance.

Malaysian AIDS Council President, Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said “The 3C’s should always be used as a gold standard for testing: Consent, Counselling and Confidentiality”.

ISLAM PRIHATIN PADA HIV-AIDS

Di Malaysia, kes pertama HIV/AIDS dikesan pada tahun 1986, dan sehingga 2007 terdapat seramai 80,938 orang pembawa HIV dan 13,635 orang penghidap AIDS direkodkan. Sehingga kini seramai 11,539 orang penghidap AIDS telah meninggal dunia dan kira-kira 72% daripada mereka adalah orang Islam. Purata sehari pembawa baru HIV yang dikesan ialah 13 kes sehari, AIDS pula 3 kes sehari dan yang melibatkan kematian 5 kes sehari.

Menurut laporan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM), setakat ini perkongsian jarum suntikan di kalangan penagih dadah dikenalpasti menjadi penyumbang utama iaitu sebanyak 57.39% dan diikuti perhubungan seks dan melalui jangkitan ibu hamil sebanyak 32.9% dalam penyebaran HIV/AIDS. Pada masa ini penawar penyembuhan HIV/AIDS, belum ditemui