AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is an incurable but preventable disease. HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus that cause AIDS, spreads through unprotected sex (intercourse without a condom), transfusions of unscreened blood, contaminated needles and syringes (most often those used for injecting drugs) and from an infected woman to her child during pregnancy, childbirth and breast feeding.

All people including children are at a risk for HIV/AIDS everyone needs information and education bout the disease and access to condoms to reduce this risk.

Anyone who suspects that he or she might be infected with HIV should contact a health worker or an HIV.AIDS center to receive confidential counseling and testing.

The risk of getting HIV through sex can be reduced if people don’t have sex, if the reduce the number of sex partners, if uninfected partners have sex only with each other, or if people have safer sex- sex without penetration or while using a condom. Correct and consistent use of condoms can save lives by preventing the spread of HIV.

Girls are especially vulnerable to HIV infection and need support to protected against unwanted and unsafe sex.

Parents and teachers can help young people protect themselves from HIV /AIDS by talking with them about how to avoid getting and spreading the disease, including the correct and consistent use of male or female condoms.

HIV infection can be passed from a mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth or through breastfeeding. Pregnant women or new mothers who are infected with HIV, or suspect that they are infected, should consult a qualified health worker to seek testing and counseling.