Born in Strife
“Learn that mortal man must always look to his ending and none can be called happy until that day when he carries his happiness down to the grave in peace”
Every 1st of December is globally observed as the World AIDS Day. The day presents us with an opportunity to reflect upon that one inexplicable bond which we all share as human beings, the bond of pain and hardship, of strife and sickness, of overwhelming anxieties and seemingly unbearable sorrows. No matter who we are, in which part of the world, each and every one of us has our own struggles to contend with. For some it is the disease like cancer and HIV AIDS. For others it might be strife to overcome the challenges of their disability. For others still the suffering might be of losing somebody dear to them and not being able to reconcile with the fact. Indeed, every person who walks under the sun is struggling to endure one kind of trial or another. As a result, we all have a shared responsibility to each other of doing all in our power to understand and to relieve one another of our individual sufferings.
Just last year 690,000 people lost the battle of survival against HIV AIDS. According to World Health Organization (WHO) “The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people’s defense against many infections and some types of cancer. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Since Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which can take many years to develop if not treated, depending on the individual. AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections or other severe long term clinical manifestations.”
It also falls upon us to equip ourselves with the relevant reliable information regarding the signs and symptoms of this disease. Though the disease is incurable, by adopting certain preventive and controlling strategies its infected patients have been known to not only survive its adversities but also enjoy a healthy long life. Its signs and symptoms as described by WHO is as follows: “The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection. Though people living with HIV tend to be most infectious in the first few months after being infected, many are unaware of their status until the later stages. In the first few weeks after initial infection people may experience no symptoms or an influenza-like illness including fever, headache, rash or sore throat.
As the infection progressively weakens the immune system, they can develop other signs and symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhea and cough. This without treatment, they could also develop severe illnesses such as tuberculosis (TB), cryptococcal meningitis, severe bacterial infections, and cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma.”
Human Development Foundation Pakistan worked tirelessly to ensure and better the health condition of its partner communities. It aims at poverty eradication with the belief that improved living conditions and standards indeed play a vital role in breaking all social and financial barriers when it comes to dealing with diseases like HIV AIDS. HDF under its flagship health and wellness program has achieved ‘Zero HIV Cases’ in its partner communities across Pakistan through effective social and behavioral change.
So let us become the moral strength of all such patients and those people who are actively contributing to their struggles!
Let us donate are time and money, skills and services, to all such efforts!