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By: Dr (Hakeem) Aslam Javed

HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus which causes HIV infection and Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). It weakens a person's disease-fighting powers and overpowers his immune system and uses it to sustain and multiply its own race. Upon entering a person's body, it slowly colonizes vital organs and destroys the patient's immune system which is responsible for fighting various infections. HIV finally makes a man very weak and takes him closer to death prematurely.

What is Aids?

AIDS stands for 'acquired immune deficiency syndrome'. It is called 'acquired' which means 'taken from someone else'. Immuno (immune system) is our disease-fighting system. So Aids, in other words, is a condition of weakened immune system caused by HIV.

Aids is a lethal disease which is acquired from others and destroys a man's disease-fighting powers (immune system) - thus making him susceptible to various infections. The patient continues to weaken despite several years of treatment and finally surrenders to his fate - the jaws of death. As soon as HIV enters a person's body, it progresses in his white blood cells which play a vital role in fighting all types of infections. The most lethal function of HIV is that it destroys CD4 T cells. The number of these vital cells continues to dwindle alarmingly, thus making the patient susceptible to a lot of infections that are usually not very harmful for a normal person. Every disease from pneumonia to influenza invades the HIV infected person and makes his life a hell.

If we look at the global Aids scenario, we find that it is very less prevalent among the Muslims which is surprising. So a slogan has become popular - 'Adapt the Islamic way of life to save yourself from HIV/Aids'. It is true because lack of fear of Allah, poor sense of hygiene and drunkenness are forcing men to make sexual relationship with prostitutes - big transmitiers of HIV. These men further transmit HIV to their wives and they transmit it to their children. That's why men are advised to remain faithful to their wives, but it has been seen that mere catchy slogans are not sufficient.

In India, people like truck drivers, migrant and illiterate labourers, soldiers and all those who have to live long duration away from their homes tend to make sexual contacts with prostitutes and consequently acquire HIV. So, it is necessary to spread awareness about Aids to save the people. Particularly, the youth need to be made aware about the fear of Allah, good habits and behaviours and the value of good health. Islam is a practical religion and the prophet (pbuh) had made it clear that the parents should marry their sons as soon as they reach puberty to stop them from going astray. And if someone is unable to marry due to financial or some other reasons, he should keep fasts to tame his sexual desires.

The good news is that the efforts and campaigns against Aids are producing very good results. Many reports reveal that India has registered a good success rate in stopping Aids to a large extent. There has been 57 per cent decrease in the number of HIV patients in the last decade in the country, and there is 25 per cent decrease in Aids-caused death rate as well. The government is trying its best to bring the figure to zero level. To achieve this objective, a lot of awareness campaigns and safety measures are being used.

During the World Aids Day 2014, the union health minister, Mr. J.P. Nadda, said that large scale public participation in these campaigns can do wonders. He also added while launching a dedicated Aids helpline number - 1097, that a digital service centre and a supply chain management system have also been created to stop HIV/Aids from spreading its wings. The helpline number will work 24X7. He said that the world Aids Day is an occasion when we should renew our pledge to combat this disease with new vigour. He appealed, especially to youth, to help HIV patients live their lives with honour, comfort and dignity. "The World Aids Day is a day for all of us to ponder deeply and to promise ourselves to root out this disease. We have to think innovative ways to fight it and figure out our shortcomings and improve further and work collectively to strengthen our campaign against Aids," he said.

The National Aids Control Program (NACP) has succeeded in bringing down new HIV infections by 57 per cent in the last ten years. But a lot has still to be done, as according to a report, the number of HIV infected people in the country stands at 1.2 million. Around 90 per cent infections are caused through sexual contacts. From 2004 to 2014, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) has made a contribution of 166 million dollar towards the National Aids Control Program of India. India is one of the beneficiary countries to take advantage of the global fund for fighting TB, Aids and Malaria.

The U.S. is the biggest contributor (30 per cent) to this global fund. PEPFAR works along with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and uses the global fund to combat Aids through various campaign programs with the help of the government agencies, people, health experts and volunteers. PEPFAR also works with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Centre for Disease Control & Prevention to control this disease. PEPFAR focuses on the technical side of disease control that includes laboratory and strategic control, health check ups and awareness drives. India acknowledges the U.S. government as a vital collaborator due to its high technical know-how and latest innovations.

PEPFAR along with the regional partners has made countless demonstrations and technical assistance. Its contributions also include evidence-based control programs, practical models for hospitals and patients, telephone helplines, counseling and testing services, antiretroviral treatment, general care and support, PMTCT services. These along with special care of HIV infected children, high quality mobile testing laboratories have proved the importance of Indo-US relationship in the health sector. The U.S. government through its PEPFAR has also launched its programs in African and other Asian countries which can also benefit from India models and its success story.

Through its laboratories and clinics and vast network of supported research at universities, medical centres, and clinical trial sites around the globe, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working to better understand HIV and how it causes disease, find new tools to prevent HIV infection, develop new and more effective treatments for HIV-infected people, and find a cure. The NIH provides the basic support to fight HIV and offers clinical and translational research assistance which helps to fight HIV infections in populated regions. It also helps to control HIV infections among children.

Both the U.S. as well as Indian government give special focus on scientific research and treatment to battle Aids. This clinical research and scientific cooperation are also seen at university level between the researchers. Indian research scholars and institutes are continuously succeeding in geting the NIH Common Fund during the last decade. The NIH funds various bio-medical researches for the benefit of mankind. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also provides help to clinical research networks which includes Aids Clinical Trials Group and various other research programs. The U.S. and Indian scientists are also working together to find a permanent cure or vaccine for Aids/HIV.

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View More Uses of herbal Medicine for AIDS treatment

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