A Look into AIDS
I came across a book of tragic endings. I was so deeply sorry for the persons who are willing to share their life experiences. However, one story of a family living somewhere in Africa moved me with utter sadness. Allow me to share their story and may their souls rest in peace.
“I used to know Argus and his loving family of a lovely wife, two daughters and a son. They lived 800km away from the city where I work .I used to see him driving his truck on weekends but when I did not see him for over 7 years I inquire from his friend Arlong. Arlong informed me that Argus had a vehicular accident and died on the spot .Her wife who was already a hypertensive was rushed to the hospital on the same day but also passed away with severe hypertension 2 weeks after. Her eldest daughter Sanya, 6 months pregnant was married to a man from the same place they came from whom Argus her father strongly resented committed suicide 7 months after. Neighbours said the couples had a fight the night before the tragedy .Hoping to hear some good news, I asked about the other children Hatal and Shakri. Arlong informed me that Hatal was working as a waiter in a pub but was laid off for he had AIDS, telling me that he would die anytime now. Shakri, the youngest daughter has a family of 2 children. However, her husband is ill and will also be laid off from work for he also is infected with AIDS. Sooner or later Shakri will have the same disease, leaving their children to be adopted and who knows who will watch over the children. However, that was not all. Arlong told me that the day Argus had the accident, he was searching for Sanya to inform her that the man she loved was infected with AIDS but failed to do so”.
People say it is a punishment from god, others say a curse from the dead, while others simply say that AIDS is death itself. Whatever the beliefs are, it is certainly something that will kill us if we don’t take preventive precautions. We should know that AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is a disease caused by HIV. HIV is a pathological disease which is communicable; it is acquired through infected blood, contaminated instruments and prolonged contact with infected people. It attacks our immune system by rapidly entering our blood and replicating our white blood cells, which made it difficult for our immune system to recognize and destroy the virus that suppresses our immunity to infection. And since blood circulates all over the body it affects our major organs, which resulted to multiple organ failure then death.
The worst part of this is that there is still no cure for AIDS. Drugs were made to slow down the development of the virus or to slow down the damage of the organs affected but still, no remedy for such disease if infected up to this present time.
The best part is it is preventable. As stated earlier, AIDS is acquired through contact of infected things and blood, which enters our body. If we are cautious enough by being aware of the places where we can possibly be affected by the disease, positively we will not acquire the disease.
This is a global dilemma, which means the disease can easily spread and is present in all places around the world. We can never be sure that the place we live in is not affected with AIDS. For this reason, we should take initial action to prevent and stop such disease to occur. By helping together with the whole community in providing information about AIDS and how to prevent it is the most effective way to help each other stop the disease.
Worldwide; a person is infected weekly, more people are diagnosed with HIV positive monthly and death due to AIDS yearly. We know how tragic it will be to have such disease. We don’t want to experience Argus and his family went through. We have to put an end in this sad story and now is the right time to do it.