Chapter-I
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
AIDS is a deadly disease for which so far no foolproof treatment has been discovered. Of course, great research is going on in this field. It is said that a vaccine has now been discovered but how far it is successful, is still doubtful. But its efficacy in saving the new born babies is said to have been proved to an acceptable measure.
The best safeguard against this devastating disease is the precautions that we should take and bear in mind. The first reason how a man gets AIDS is through infected blood transfused into his body. So, if we need transfusion of blood for any reason, we should make sure that it is AIDS free and has conclusively been tested as such. In is quite understandable that we should use only disposable syringes if we want to have an injection.
A non-disposable syringe might have got infected. Another reason for the spread of AIDS is unprotected sex. We must take care that we are never to indulge in unprotected sex. The best thing is that we should never have extra-marital relations.
A baby may be infected with AIDS if any of the parents has got the infection or is HIV positive. It should be confirmed from specialists if the new vaccine developed for the protection of babies against AIDS is effective. If found so, it should be administered to the baby under the guidance and supervision of the specialist concerned.
If a person has at all developed AIDS, we should not discard him like a hot potato. He should be shown due regard and affection and we should take measures that we can for his comfort and recovery, if possible. We should remember that certain acts such as shaking hands, kissing, using same towels, etc. does not spread AIDS.
We should not fight shy of getting our blood tested for HIV. It is done at nominal rates and even free at certain places. In case of HIV positive, we should take the