HIV & AIDS

January 1999

As far back as early 1990, the Medical Advisory Board of the World Federation had brought up the subject of HIV & AIDS in our community for discussion in one of the Executive Council meetings held in Peterborough.  It drew peoples’ attention to the fact that if no urgent action is taken, this deadly infection will affect our whole community.  The audience were shocked to hear this and some found it difficult to believe that such a disease can penetrate our community.  Some, later on, accused us of spreading panic in our community.

Alas, HIV & AIDS has indeed already penetrated our community and got hold of it.  So far we have received 98 cases of HIV & AIDS at the Medical Advisory Board.  Most of them have died.

This is ofcourse a tiny fraction of what the real figures are.  Our estimate is that over a thousand people in our Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Community world-wide is affected by HIV & AIDS at the moment.  This is the most conservative figure.  Other doctors working very closely with our community put prevalence to 3%.

•  

                          Year                No. Patients                            Total

                           1991                2                                              2

                          1992                6                                              8

                          1993                8                                              16

                          1994                13                                            29

                          1995                17                                            46

                          1996                19                                            65

                          1997                21                                            86

                          1998                51 (So Far)                             137

   

   

  Now, marriages are ending up in divorce and engagements are being broken because one of the partners is HIV positive.  Aids is being passed on to the off spring.

  

  Now in our communities:- · AIDS is being passed on to children from mother. · Engagements are broken because one of the partner is HIV Positive. · Marriages are ending in divorce.

  Some of the facts about HIV & AIDS

  1. The first fact about AIDS is that AIDS is now a fact of life. Too many people still think of it as a disease which "other" people contract.
     
     
  2. Society's reaction to AIDS have varied from shock and fear to complacency. As we are a close knit community HIV and AIDS can be particularly important issue. No doubt, strict adherence to Islamic teachings will save us from this dangerous disease.
     
     
  3. As yet there is no cure for HIV (which leads to AIDS) so there is only one way to combat the disease. That is to prevent it from spreading. AIDS kills. Once infected, always infected.
     
     
  4. AIDS is a world-wide problem amongst people of all ages. Early cases were found in drug abusers, blood transfusion patients and people who practised high risk sexual activities such as homosexuals and prostitutes. But now HIV is being spread through conventional sex - between men and women.
     
     
  5. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the name of a virus that can damage the body's immune system. The immune system fights off illness, and if the body's defences are severely weakened this can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the name for a collection of different diseases which can cause serious illness or death in both adults and children.
     
     
  6. In adults, a test for HIV antibodies will not produce a positive result until at least 3 months after infection and this is called the "window" period. It is important to remember that even though a test result would be 'negative' during the "window" period, a person would be infectious at this stage, if they have HIV. People who develop AIDS become ill from a variety of problems which they cannot fight off and from which they eventually die. Two illnesses which commonly affect AIDS patients are a type of pneumonia called Pheumocystis Carinii, and a form of cancer which attacks the skin called Kaposi's Sarcoma.

   

  DEATH OCCURS WITHIN 3 YEARS OF GETTING AIDS.

  
  

  How is HIV Transmitted

  • through unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse with an infected man or woman
  • by infected blood entering the blood stream through sharing injection needles, transfusion of infected blood or blood products, intravenous drug users (those who take injections regularly for pleasure), needle injuries, etc. Check if blood or blood products are screened in your country.
  • from a woman with HIV to her baby either during pregnancy, or during delivery.

  ---

  WHO IS AT RISK?

  People who:-

  a) Have sexual intercourse with an infected man or woman.

  b) Use intravenous drugs.

  c) Share injection needles.

  d) Have a transfusion with infected blood or blood products.

  e) Have frequent sexual intercourse with many partners.

  f) Have sexual intercourse with prostitutes.

  g) Indulge in prohibited sexual behaviour e.g. homosexual intercourse, oral sex, anal sex, etc.

  h) Are born to infected mothers.

  ---

  PREVENTION

  1. The Islamic life style - chastity before and fidelity within a marriage - is a safeguard against acquiring this disease. Live within the bounds of The Islamic Shariah and adhere to the injunctions prohibiting homosexuality and extramarital sexual relations. Despite the alarming aspects of this illness it is reassuring to know that we have the ability to choose to avoid AIDS and the answer lies in 'living within the precincts of the moral code' as prescribed by Islam and upholding the values of chastity and morality. Being faithful to ones wife or husband is the best ways of prevention.
     
     
  2. If your use a condom use it correctly. Use water based lubricant gel with the condom. Oil based gel can weaken the rubber.
     
     
  3. Remember - many signs and symptoms of AIDS coincide with wide variety of illness and therefore early medical help should be sought where suspicion arises.
     
     
  4. Have screened blood transfusion. Except in life threatening conditions, a blood transfusion for any purpose should be refused unless it has been guaranteed to have been screened for HIV. Where in doubt, it is always advisable to arrange donors within family or community whose health status is known.
     
     
  5. Don't use intravenous drugs. Do not share your needles, syringes, mixing bowls etc., if you happen to use intravenous drugs.
     
     
  6. Do not share Razors, toothbrushes and towels.
     
     
  7. Do not share Zanjeers or go too close to the user.

   

  AIDS IS A KILLER. It kills individuals, families, generations and societies.