“A negative attitude towards people living with HIV is still present due to the lack of knowledge “
Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Hakan Evren MD. said that 1st of December designated by World Health Organization (WHO) in order to raise awareness about HIV / AIDS and to end the discrimination against people with HIV-positive. Hakan Evren MD. reminded that acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized as a new disease in the United States of America in 1984 and in the next 34 years 78 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people have died of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Evren stated that the number of people living with HIV is increasing everyday globally.

Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist Hakan Evren MD. stressed that “HIV attacks immune system cells. In about 8-10 years it leads to severe immune deficiency. At this stage some ‘opportunistic agents’ such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites causes the disease and AIDS occurs. While there has been a considerable progress made in treatment a negative attitude towards people living with HIV is still present due to the lack of knowledge “ and continued his statement by adding the following valuable information:

How is HIV transmitted?
It is transmitted through blood or blood components, semen or bodily fluids, placenta and breast milk.
How can we protect ourselves from HIV?
We can protect ourselves from HIV by using condoms, limiting the number of partners, creating awareness on injecting drug use and treating, monitoring and controlling HIV (+) pregnant women.

In which situations is HIV not transmitted?
HIV is not transmitted by shaking hands, hugging and sharing dishes, telephones and toilets. Mosquitoes and other biting or stinging insects and other animals cannot transmit HIV.

Who is under risk?
Those who have HIV positive partner, sharing syringes and other injection equipment, have unprotected sex, people who have born or lived in a country that has a high HIV prevalence, those who travel to countries where the disease is very common and those who are subjected to sexual assault are at risk.