HIV 101 & Addressing Stigma

The Season for Change Advent StudyWeek One

What is HIV/AIDS?

▪ What does HIV stand for?– Human– Immunodeficiency– Virus

▪ Immune system fights off viruses and infections

▪ When HIV enters the body, it attacks the immune system and destroys cells

▪ HIV weakens immune system more susceptible to other bacteria and viruses

HIV 101

How is it transmitted?

▪ High levels of HIV = found in these bodily fluids– Blood– Semen – Pre-seminal fluid – Breast Milk– Vaginal fluids– Anal mucous

How is it transmitted?

Stages

The Early Stages

Clinical Latency

Progression to AIDS

How is HIV/AIDS Treated?

▪ No cure

▪ No vaccine

▪ Treatment = Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

▪ ART fights HIV infections lowers viral load slows progression to AIDS and decreases chances of passing it on to others– Ex: ART is used to help prevent mothers from passing on HIV to

children during pregnancy, child birth, and breastfeeding (aka Mother-to-Child transmission)

How Many are Infected?

▪ 33.4 million people are currently living with HIV

▪ 97% live in countries of middle/low-income, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa.

▪ Since 1981, over 25 million people have died of AIDS worldwide

▪ Most people living with HIV don’t have access to prevention, care, and treatment

How Many are Infected?

The HIV epidemic affects

▪ Health of individuals

▪ Households

▪ Communities

▪ Development/economic growth of nations

Statistics

Why Should We Care?

“The unconditional love of God, witnessed to and manifested through Christ’s healing ministry, provides an ever-present sign and call to the church and all persons of faith to join efforts to prevent the spread of HIV, provide care and treatment to those who are already infected and ill, uphold the preciousness of God’s creation through proclamation and affirmation, and be harbingers of hope, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, and reconciliation within the world.”

– Book of Resolutions, #3243

Advent Reflection & Resources

▪ Visit gbcsumc.info/HIV-Advent to download handouts and additional material.

▪ For additional information, visit the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund websitewww.umcor.org/UMCOR/Programs/Global-Health/HIV-AIDS