HIV/AIDS: Concerns and life skills perspective

This paper summarizes what we know and what we need to know in the context of HIV/AIDS. We know that the first HIV diagnosis was made in 1986 in India. Starting with this first case today almost close to 34 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. It is also a common knowledge that transmission of HIV takes place through the four modes of transmission i.e. unsafe sex, needle sharing, transfusion of infected blood or blood products and from infected pregnant mother to child. We also know that once inside the body HIV cannot be taken out, removed or cured. It can only be managed through medicines and a disciplined lifestyle. Even though we know that becoming HIV positive changes an infected person's life and also the lives of those related to this person. We somehow think that we (me and my people) are invincible and therefore HIV need not concern us. We conveniently assume that children would automatically acquire the needed knowledge as they grow up. What we need to know and remember therefore is that HIV is a behaviourally acquired infection; that in spite of the concerted efforts by the national and international agencies HIV/AIDS is still growing in India and worldwide; and that its prevention is really very simple provided one cares to change one's attitude and not indulge in high risk behaviors like unprotected sex, use of infected needle. Strategies for saving our young ones would therefore consist of providing accurate information to the children and teaching them life skills of problem solving also decision making, assertiveness and negotiation. Besides, we as a parent must develop effective parenting skills through life skills.