Red Cross Bahamas implemented this tool as a means of education towards the HIV/AIDS Awareness Initiative

1. BAHAMAS RED CROSS SOCIETY
Celebrating over 15 years of contributions to the National HIV and AIDS
Programme in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
WELCOME TO OUR ONLINE LEARNING CENTRE

2. HIV & AIDS 101
This training segment was adapted from the technical tools
of the International Federation of the Red Cross’
Together We Can Peer Education Project and
The American Red Cross’ Caribbean HIV and AIDS Project.
© 2014
Funded by PEPFAR and USAID via World Learning and
the American Red Cross. This project is managed by
BRCS Caribbean HIV AIDS Project (CHAP)

3. WHAT IS HIV?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The acronym
HIV stands for:
H - Human
I - Immuno- deficiency
V - Virus

4. WHAT IS AIDS?
The acronym AIDS stands for:
A - Acquired
I - Immune
D - Deficiency
S - Syndrome

5. How can a person become
infected with HIV?
• By having unprotected sexual intercourse with an
infected person
• Through the transfusion of blood produced from an
infected source (e.g. by sharing drug needles with
an infected person)
• Through mother to child transmission, where an
infected mother can pass the virus to her child
during pregnancy, at birth or through breast feeding

6. Three (3) Things for HIV
Transmission
1. There must a person with HIV involved (the virus
needs to leave the HIV positive person)
2. There must be enough active amount of the virus
present.
3. The virus must enter the other person’s body and
get into their blood stream

7. Ways HIV is not
Spread…
• HIV is not transmitted by:
– kissing,
– ‘casual’ or everyday contact between people
– coughing, sneezing, touching or hugging
someone who has the virus
– biting insects such as mosquitos

8. ORAL SEX AND HIV
• The risk of HIV infection from oral sex (giving or
receiving) is very small BUT it’s still not considered a
safe sex activity
• It is a low risk activity – meaning that chances are
low but using some form of protection is still
strongly advised

9. UNBORN BABIES AND HIV
• An HIV positive woman can give birth to a child who does
not have HIV, if the HIV positive mother takes special drugs
(ART) which will prevent the baby from becoming infected
• Also strongly recommended that HIV positive mothers do
not breastfeed their baby
• Transmission of HIV can occur in the womb, during birth, or
during breastfeeding

10. SIGNS OF HIV
• Can you tell if someone has HIV just by looking at
them?
• NO! A person with HIV can live for many years with no
signs or symptoms of illness
• If symptoms do develop in early infection, they are
usually similar at first to those of a common minor
illness such as the flu

11. HIV TESTING
• The only way you can tell if you have HIV for certain is
to take an HIV test
• VCT – Voluntary Counseling and Testing
• Locations in the Bahamas – HIV AIDS Centre, Local
Government Clinics, Adolescent Health Centre,
Bahamas Family Planning Association, any Private
Doctor

12. WINDOW PERIOD
• The “window period” is the time it takes for a person who
has been infected with HIV to react to the virus by creating
HIV antibodies (seroconversion)
• In the window period, people infected with HIV have no
antibodies in their blood that can be detected by an HIV
test, but the person may already have high levels of HIV in
their blood, sexual fluids or breast milk

13. WINDOW PERIOD
Condt.
• Although HIV may not be detected by a test during
the window period, HIV can be transmitted during
that time
• If you think you have been exposed to HIV, you
must wait another 3 months to get tested again –
the antibody will not show up in the test until then

14. WHO IS AT RISK FOR
HIV?
• PEOPLE WHO HAVE/ARE:
– unprotected sex (sex without a condom)
– many sexual partners who do not use a condom 100% of
the time
– had repeated Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
– Sexually active homosexual and bisexual males who do
not use a condom 100% of the time

15. WHO IS AT RISK
condt…
• Male and female sex workers (prostitutes) who do
not use a condom 100% of the time
• Persons who have sex with someone who is HIV
positive who do not use a condom 100% of the time
• Past or present users of needles which are used to
inject illicit drugs e.g. heroin

16. IS THERE A CURE FOR
HIV & AIDS?
• Currently there is no cure for HIV or AIDS.
• There are medications available which help to
manage HIV infection and which can help the
person live a relatively healthily and productive life.

17. HOW CAN YOU
PROTECT YOURSELF?
• Abstain or delay sex
• Be faithful to one uninfected partner
• Use a latex condom every time you have sex with a
partner
• Do not use drugs or share injection needles
• Seek early and complete treatment for STIs
• Get the facts on STIs and AIDS
• Know your Status and your partner’s Status- get tested for
HIV

18. END OF TRAINING SEGMENTEND OF TRAINING SEGMENT

19. For additional information on this training segment,For additional information on this training segment,
contact the Bahamas Red Cross Societycontact the Bahamas Red Cross Society
at 242-322-9451 or 2, or locate aat 242-322-9451 or 2, or locate a
Bahamas Red Cross Peer Educator in your community.Bahamas Red Cross Peer Educator in your community.
Funded by PEPFAR and USAID via World Learning and
the American Red Cross. This project is managed by
BRCS Caribbean HIV AIDS Project (CHAP)