Tourism: An Innovation in Caring For People Living With HIV/AIDS

By Adewale Adenrele

HIV/AIDS is a serious disease that affects millions of Nigerians. People who
are infected with HIV need care and support from their friends, families, and
the community, especially when they are ill. Friends and family members
sometimes worry that they might be infected when caring for a person with HIV
by touching, hugging, coughing, or sharing eating utensils cannot pass on HIV.
It is possible for people who are infected with HIV to live long healthy lives.
You can help those who are infected by:

·       Showing love, respect, and support.

·       Knowing the facts about HIV/AIDS and talking
openly about the disease.

·        Helping to reduce stress and stressful
situations.

·        Helping to provide balanced and nutritious
meals.

·       Package a tour for them by taking them to
tourist attraction sites, beaches, and vacations which will help them to feel
among people.

·        Encouraging them to take anti-retroviral drug
therapy and to get treatment if they are sick. Most infections are easily
treated and cured, even if a person is HIV positive.

·        There may be situations where you need to clean
up body fluids or blood from someone infected with HIV. It is important to use
rubber or plastic gloves or other barriers such as plastic bags or thick cloth
to prevent direct contact. Make sure that you have these easily available at
all times

Advice to People Living With Hiv/Aids (Plwh/A)

AIDS is a disease that affects millions of Nigerians. A virus called HIV
that slowly weakens a person’s ability to fight off other diseases causes it.
If you are infected with HIV you can still live a normal healthy life for many
years by observing the following:

·        Eat nourishing foods, have enough rest, and
share information about their HIV status with their spouses and those they
trust.

·        Seek counseling about pregnancy because of mother-to-child
transmission.

·        Being positive about life.

·        Getting support from those around you

·        They should avoid passing the infection to
others by practicing safer sex and protecting themselves from other STDs.