Written by Faasik Info
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Thursday, 07 January 2010 13:55 |
When dealing with a person living with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) the bottom line is that you must treat them , the way out would like to be treated if you were infected with HIV. DOs: -
Sympathise and empathise with them -
Provide them family and social support -
Allow them to be a part of the family as he / she was prior to disclosure of the infection -
Allow them to get back to their work as soon as soon as he / she is physically fit, since HIV infection doesn’t require special rest -
Keep them engaged in some activity, as an empty mind is a devil’s workshop -
Make efforts to reduce their stress -
Encourage them to exercise and meditate as these help prolong the life span -
Provide them with a high protein, high vitamin diet and clean potable water (boiled) -
Convince them to stop all addictions such as tobacco cigarettes, alcohol or other psychotropic / recreational drugs -
Register them with a health care facility for regular checks and follow up -
Take immediate steps to treat even minor ailments. However, it is not necessary to disclose their HIV status to their family physician -
Dispose off blood stained tampons and bandages properly, either by flushing or by disinfecting them first with detergent -
Advice them to use safe sex (condoms) with their sex partner, even if partner is already HIV positive -
Purse them at any appropriate time, to make a will -
Provide foster care to their children -
Help fight the discrimination meted out to them by hospitals , doctors and employers -
Educate family members and friends about HIV / AIDS, if they already know the HIV status of the patient.
DON’TS: -
Don’t accuse them for getting infected, it doesn’t help -
Don’t try to probe into when, where the person was infected -
Don’t make them feel guilty -
Don’t isolate them in their home / workplace -
Don’t separate them from spouse or children, since they are the best support for them. It is important for them to spend quality family time together -
Don’t use gloves in feeding the infected person or to wipe off his saliva, sweat, nasal secretions and tears -
Don’t share razors, tooth brush and other sharp objects with infected person or for that matter with any body else -
It is not necessary to wash their clothes seperately -
Don’t disclose the HIV status of infected person to friends, employer and insurance company -
Don’t humiliate the infected person, his / her spouse or children -
Don’t scare them of suffering and death. In the terminal stage, prepare them for a smooth journey to death -
Don’t get conned by the fake claims, false cures, witch hunters and faith healers. Wait for declaration of the noble prize for the real cure -
Don’t spend the entire available money limit in the first bout of illness, it may be the first of such illnesses in the pipeline. Make a proper planning of your spending capability. -
Don’t take many relatives to see the patient admitted in hospital -
Don’t test for HIV repeatedly, once the presence of infection is established it remains there forever When dealing with a person living with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) the bottom line is that you must treat them , the way out would like to be treated if you were infected with HIV. Sponsor us please. :Click here
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