Preventing the Spread of HIV: Blood Transfusion, Sharing Needles and Sharp Objects

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

·        describe how the spread of HIV can be prevented by avoiding contact with infected blood through blood transfusion, sharing of needles and sharp objects; and

·        promote awareness of your pupils on the prevention of the spread of HIV by avoiding contact with infected blood through sharing needles and sharp objects.

Blood transfusion

Blood transfusion is the procedure of introducing the blood of a donor into the bloodstream of another person- the recipient. It is employed routinely in cases of surgery, trauma, gastrointestinal bleeding, and in childbirths that involve great loss of blood.

Transmission through contact with blood

HIV is one of many diseases that can be transmitted by blood. Be careful if you are helping someone who is bleeding. If your work exposes you to blood, be sure to protect any cuts or open sores on your skin, as well as your eyes and mouth. Your employer should provide gloves, facemasks and other protective equipment, plus training about how to avoid diseases that are spread by blood.

Danger in sharing sharp objects

There is a common saying that “AIDS doesn’t show on the face”. People who have HIV do not normally display physical manifestation of the infection. We are aware that the virus is found in the blood and other body fluids of infected persons. Infection results if the blood of such persons comes into contact with that of another person.

Contact with infected blood can come in the form of sharing shaving razors, clippers in the barbing salon, and injection syringes.

Danger in the use of injected drugs

If you are high on drugs, you might forget to use protection during sex. If you use someone else's equipment (needles, syringes, cookers, cotton or rinse water) you can get infected by tiny amounts of blood. The best way to avoid infection is to not use drugs. If you use drugs, you can prevent infection by not injecting them. If you do inject, don't share equipment. If you must share, clean equipment with bleach and water before every use.

Resources: razors, pair of clippers, injection syringes

Procedure

Divide pupils into three groups- A, B, and C. Give the groups some razors, clippers and syringes. Ask each group work together cooperatively to list the uses of the objects, the dangers inherent in the sharing of the objects and the preventive action that can be taken. Each group to summarise its discussions and report to the whole class. Lead discussion in the summary to the conclusions such as:

·        Contact with infected blood can come in the form of blood transfusion, sharing shaving razors, clippers in the barbing salon, and injection syringes.

·        Drug users who use someone else's equipment (needles, syringes, cookers, cotton or rinse water) can get infected by tiny amounts of blood.

·        We must avoid sharing razors, clippers, syringes and other sharp objects to prevent contamination with our blood and hence infection with HIV.

·        Pupils to prepare small-sized posters on the topic of the lesson and best entries mounted in the class.

·        Pupils should be asked to share the message of the lesson with their friends and relations.

THE OVERALL MESSAGE

If you think you have been exposed to HIV, visit a doctor and get tested.  If you are sure that you have been exposed, see your doctor immediately to discuss whether you should start taking anti-HIV drugs. This is called "post exposure prophylaxis" or PEP. You would take two or three medications for several weeks. These drugs can decrease the risk of infection, but they have some serious side effects.  HIV does not spread easily from person to person. To get infected with HIV, infected blood, sexual fluid, or mother's milk has to get into your body. HIV-infected pregnant women can pass the infection to their new babies. To decrease the risk of spreading HIV:

• Use condoms during sexual activity
• Do not share drug injection equipment
• If you are HIV-infected and pregnant, talk with your doctor about taking anti-HIV drugs
• If you are an HIV-infected woman, don't breast feed any baby
• Protect cuts, open sores, and your eyes and mouth from contact with blood.

If you think you've been exposed to HIV, get tested and ask your doctor about taking anti-HIV medications.

In this lesson, we learned

·        that sharing of sharp objects with persons who are infected with HIV can lead to one being infected;

·        that we must avoid sharing razors, clippers, syringes and other sharp objects to prevent contamination with our blood and hence infection with HIV; and

·        how to raise the level of awareness of our pupils about the topic of the lesson who are in turn expected to pass the message on to friends and relations.