If I kept it to myself - World YWCA
If I kept it to myself - World YWCA
If I kept it to myself - World YWCA
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<strong>If</strong> I <strong>kept</strong> <strong>it</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>myself</strong><br />
TOOL BOX<br />
Sharing Knowledge<br />
HIV and AIDS Education<br />
The annual increase of new HIV infections annually shows that current<br />
prevention messages are not as effective as we would like them <strong>to</strong> be.<br />
For current information on what is happening globally, have a look at the<br />
UNAIDS December 2005 AIDS epidemic update www.unaids.org<br />
We live in a world where the people who need the information and<br />
education are not receiving <strong>it</strong>. Access <strong>to</strong> education and information is a<br />
human right and must <strong>to</strong> be available <strong>to</strong> all. Anyone, irrespective of who<br />
they are, can become infected w<strong>it</strong>h HIV.<br />
Help prevent new infections<br />
Knowledge is power. <strong>If</strong> you know your HIV status, you can take action<br />
through behaviour change and making the right decisions. Due <strong>to</strong> all kinds<br />
of fear, most of us are unaware of our HIV status. We pretend that <strong>it</strong>’s not<br />
a problem and perpetuate the ‘them and us’ s<strong>it</strong>uation w<strong>it</strong>h comments such<br />
as ‘things like this do not happen <strong>to</strong> people like me.’ You can start just<br />
by talking about issues relating <strong>to</strong> HIV and AIDS. What <strong>it</strong> is, how <strong>it</strong> is/isn’t<br />
transm<strong>it</strong>ted, and how people can protect themselves from new infections.<br />
Information is useless if we do not put <strong>it</strong> in<strong>to</strong> action. Gandhi said “Be the<br />
change you want <strong>to</strong> see.” Teach people how <strong>to</strong> use information practically<br />
by being an example for people in your commun<strong>it</strong>y <strong>to</strong> follow.<br />
• Suggest and practice safer sex. Find out how people can access condoms<br />
and make sure they know how <strong>to</strong> use them.<br />
• <strong>If</strong> you are injecting drugs use clean needles and never share!<br />
42<br />
Promote pos<strong>it</strong>ive living by:<br />
• Finding someone you can talk <strong>to</strong> and confide in. Being diagnosed HIV<br />
pos<strong>it</strong>ive is hard <strong>to</strong> deal w<strong>it</strong>h all alone<br />
• Getting informed about HIV and AIDS<br />
• Speaking <strong>to</strong> other HIV pos<strong>it</strong>ive people and seeing how they have<br />
managed <strong>to</strong> keep a pos<strong>it</strong>ive outlook on life<br />
• Taking responsibil<strong>it</strong>y for your health. We tend <strong>to</strong> blame others for<br />
s<strong>it</strong>uations we find ourselves in, but often put ourselves at risk. The issue<br />
is not how or where you contracted HIV, but accepting that you are HIV<br />
pos<strong>it</strong>ive<br />
• Being checked for tuberculosis (TB) and Sexually Transm<strong>it</strong>ted Diseases<br />
(STDs). In some countries TB accounts for more than half of AIDS-related