HIV - A Guide for Personal Action

By Matthew Craven

This article will be the last in a series examining aspects of the HIV epidemic in Arusha. I will use it to describe some of the most important issues for people in this town.

First and foremost, every uninfected Arusha resident should know how to protect themselves against HIV. The facts are simple ­ every act of unprotected sex with someone who might be infected carries a risk of infection. Proper use of condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate the chance of transmission through sex. The only completely safe options are to abstain from sex or have sex only with people who are known to be uninfected. It is also possible to become infected if your blood comes into contact with the blood of an HIV positive person. However, far fewer people are infected this way than through sex. Infected mothers can also sometimes transmit HIV to their babies. Once a person has HIV, there is no way to get rid of it. Medicines can help people live longer, but there is no cure.

Everyone who has put themselves at risk for HIV should be tested. It is impossible to tell if someone has HIV just by looking at them ­ getting a blood test is the only sure way to know. Free tests are available at Mt. Meru Hospital STD clinic, Uhai Center and the Angaza Center (free for those under 24, TSh 1,000 for others). All of these testing centers include free pre and post-test counseling. Knowing one’s HIV status is good whether the result is positive or negative. For those who test negative, the news can be used as the basis for a personal campaign of safe behaviour. People who know they are HIV positive can make lifestyle changes, including joining a support group, improving their diet, taking regular exercise, drinking plenty of water, giving up tobacco and alcohol and ensuring that they do not become re-infected with a different strain of the virus. They can also gain satisfaction from knowing that they are protecting their loved ones.

If a person knows that they are HIV negative and they know how to protect themselves, the next stage is to devise a personal plan of safe behaviour. Everyone in Arusha should choose either Abstinence from sex, Being faithful to one uninfected partner or Condoms. Different choices are right for different people ­ it is not appropriate for me, the church, or anyone else to say which choice is the ‘best.’ Condoms are less effective at preventing HIV than the others, but for some people they are the only viable option. A person can change their choice to fit different stages of their lives, but they have to make sure that they are using either A, B or C at all times. If they do not then there is a fourth choice ­ HIV. People should be aware of and avoid situations that might cause them to abandon their choice. For example people who are choosing to be faithful might want to avoid getting drunk at clubs, since that might lead them to engage in risky behavior.

Lastly, the Arusha community needs to stop stigmatizing AIDS sufferers and take responsibility for them. An estimated 20% of people in this town are infected, so there will be many more patients in the years to come. AIDS is not a punishment from God, and there is no good reason not to give your support to people suffering from it in the same way that you would to people suffering from other diseases. Stigmatization and unnecessary fear are making the last years of many AIDS patients lives unnecessarily miserable.

The HIV epidemic is a fact of life in Arusha. Many individuals and organizations are trying to help, but there is still much more that can be done. It is time for everyone to accept the challenge and do all they can to limit the spread of this disease.

If you have questions about any aspect of HIV or AIDS, please feel free to email swali@sichange.org. You can write in either English or Kiswahili.

Last modified: August 22, 2003.
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