You can hug someone with HIV/AIDS

Next time you see a person with HIV/AIDS don't shun them. Go and talk to them. Think on these facts.

When I was nursing, I nursed people with HIV/AIDS, I had to bear in mind the following:

• Anyone can have the HIV virus



Nurse Peter Smith

• It is wrong to judge people that are HIV positive

The HIV virus is found in the blood and sexual fluids, it is spread in 3 ways:

1. Sexual activity when you come into direct contact with blood, semen or viginal fluids especially during unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
2. Blood to blood, the HIV virus cannot pass through unbroken skin
3. Mother to baby either while the baby is in the womb, being born or being breast fed

Condoms when used correctly are effective at preventing the transmission of AIDS. Proper education is the key to AIDS prevention.

You cannot become HIV positive from any of the following:

• Hugging 
• Mucus 
• Sweat 
• kissing (there are rare cases of people with gum disease (bleeding gums) tansmitting the virus through their saliva) 
• Shaking hands 
• Eating from the same plate 
• Towels or clothing 
• Sharing toilets or latrines 
• Sitting close to HIV people 
• Mosquitoes or other insects or animals

Finally, it should be obvious that:

• You cannot cure AIDS by sleeping with a virgin
• AIDS is NOT a disease of gay men
• AIDS is NOT a punishment from god, it is a virus just like the common cold

For more information see Myths and Facts about HIV/AIDS