*HIV/AIDS* Try as much as possible to get tested this period for the safety of your man and your woman as we approachable new year *Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)* is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection. HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This makes it easier to get sick with diseases like tuberculosis, infections and some cancers. HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. It is not spread by kisses, hugs or sharing food. It can also spread from a mother to her baby. HIV can be prevented and treated with *antiretroviral therapy (ART).* Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years. WHO now defines *Advanced HIV Disease (AHD)* as CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3 or WHO stage 3 or 4 in adults and adolescents. All children younger than 5 years of age living with HIV are considered to have advanced HIV disease. *Signs and Symptoms* The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. HIV spreads more easily in the first few months after a person is infected, but many are unaware of their status until the later stages. In the first few weeks after being infected people may not experience symptoms. Others may have an influenza-like illness including: ❗fever ❗headache ❗rash ❗️sore throat. The infection progressively weakens the immune system. This can cause other signs and symptoms: ❗️swollen lymph nodes ❗️weight loss ❗️fever ❗diarrhoea ❗cough. Without treatment, people living with HIV infection can also develop severe illnesses: tuberculosis (TB) cryptococcal meningitis severe bacterial infections cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma. HIV causes other infections to get worse, such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B and mpox. *Transmission* HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of body fluids from people living with HIV, including blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions. HIV can also be transmitted to a child during pregnancy and delivery.  People cannot become infected with HIV through ordinary day-to-day contact such as kissing, hugging, shaking hands, or sharing personal objects, food or water. People living with HIV who are taking ART and have an undetectable viral load will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners. Early access to ART and support to remain on treatment is therefore critical not only to improve the health of people living with HIV but also to prevent HIV transmission. *Risk factors* Behaviours and conditions that put people at greater risk of contracting HIV include: ❗️having anal or vaginal sex without a condom; ❗️having another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and bacterial vaginosis; ❗️harmful use of alcohol or drugs in the context of sexual behaviour; ❗️sharing contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting equipment, or drug solutions when injecting drugs; ❗️receiving unsafe injections, blood transfusions, or tissue transplantation; and medical procedures that involve unsterile cutting or piercing; or accidental needle stick injuries, including among health workers. *Prevention* HIV is a preventable disease.  Reduce the risk of HIV infection by: ✅using a male or female condom during sex being tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections ✅having a voluntary medical male circumcision ✅People taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and who have no evidence of virus in the blood will not pass HIV to their sexual partners. Access to testing and ART is an importantindividual part of preventing HIV. ✅Antiretroviral drugs given to people without HIV can prevent infection When given before possible exposures to HIV it is called *pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)* and when given after an exposure it is called *post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).*  People can use PrEP or PEP when the risk of contracting HIV is high; people should seek advice from a clinician when thinking about using PrEP or PEP. *Treatment* There is no cure for HIV infection. It is treated with antiretroviral drugs, which stop the virus from replicating in the body. Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not cure HIV infection but allows a person’s immune system to get stronger. This helps them to fight other infections. Currently, ART must be taken every day for the rest of a person’s life. ART lowers the amount of the virus in a person’s body. This stops symptoms and allows people to live full and healthy lives. People living with HIV who are taking ART and who have no evidence of virus in the blood will not spread the virus to their sexual partners. Pregnant women with HIV should have access to, and take, ART as soon as possible. This protects the health of the mother and will help prevent HIV transmission to the fetus before birth, or through breast milk. *#healthandlifeworld*