The disease of AIDS
Background: HIV, the virus, causes AIDS, the active stage of the disease. Let's start with a bit of history. In 1981, several cases of “opportunistic” pathologies in young gay men were reported by clinicians on the American West Coast. Gradually, scientists around the world are discovering this virus, which is manifested by a generalized immune deficiency in all affected people. We then speak of an epidemic because all continents are affected. Then, little by little, three modes of transmission are discovered:
- The sexual path during unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse
- The bloodstream, when there is an exchange of blood
- From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Thirty years later, there are no less than 7.7 million people living with the virus, including 1.7 million children. In France, 173,000 people are estimated to be living with HIV, not including those who do not know it. Indeed, despite the progress made in raising awareness among the general public (as evidenced by this Public Health campaign France (launched in 2020 and broadcast again this year), “screening remains the weak link in the HIV cascade in France”, as indicated by the same organization. It seems more crucial than ever to sharply reduce the number of HIV-positive people who are unaware of their status and to apply the recommendations for the frequency of screening:
- For Start treatment as soon as possible (reduce the effects of the virus on his health, increase his life expectancy and improve his quality of life, reduce the quantity of HIV in his blood until he is undetectable and thus make the virus Untransmittable).
- For avoid putting other people at risk : his children during a pregnancy for example or his partner (s).
- For be well accompanied by the medical profession, but also benefit from support and advice from third parties, in particular associations.
The symptoms
How do I detect the virus? HIV infection evolves in three phases:
- Primary infection. In about half of the cases, clinical signs may appear during the month following the contamination, most often evoking a flu-like syndrome (fever, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, muscle pain, etc.)
- The chronic phase. It does not cause any specific symptoms. Indeed, people with HIV do not feel any symptoms even though the virus continues to develop in their body for several years.
- AIDS. In the absence of diagnosis through HIV serology and treatment, the disease reaches the AIDS stage. And it is after an asymptomatic phase, which can be long, that symptoms indicative of immune weakening appear (persistent fever, night sweats, weight loss, skin infections, etc.)
The treatment
Thanks to medicine, it is now possible to live with HIV. Treatment for HIV infection is based on a combination of several antiretroviral drugs, generally three (triple therapy). However, although there have been two rare cases of recovery in the world, these prevent the multiplication of the virus in the body, but do not allow its elimination, and therefore its cure.
How to mobilize your business?
Despite the progress of all these treatments, both individually and collectively, companies still have great difficulty in dealing with the subject of HIV. How to talk about it? How to fight against prejudices against certain employees? What are the best practices? How can we fight this disease in the workplace, quite simply?
HIV in the workplace
What does the daily life of a person with HIV look like in a company? An HIV-positive person under treatment is an employed person like the others... or almost. An invisible disease, it weakens the immune system, makes one vulnerable and requires strict daily treatment. In concrete terms, this means going to the pharmacy every 30 days, doing a complete check-up every three or six months, as well as the follow-up appointments necessary to optimize the treatment. Some people are therefore forced to take a day off in order to avoid this risk of arbitration by managers who are not informed of their situation.
Corporate awareness
There is still a lot of prejudice against HIV, especially in the business world. However, the role of a company is twofold: it must inform and establish zero tolerance for discrimination. On this subject, Camille Spire, President of AIDES, the first association fighting AIDS and hepatitis in France and Europe, declares “I note that there is a strong trend today to increase the number of training courses in companies. However, a simple two-hour HIV awareness campaign is by no means sufficient. We must work to create a caring climate and to establish an inclusive corporate culture.”
How to get involved?
Today, 80% of French people say they feel well informed about HIV in general. However, treatments to prevent HIV/AIDS seem unknown to the French. Indeed, 60% of them think that there is currently no treatment to prevent being contaminated, and 47% think that there is no treatment that prevents the transmission of the virus. It is therefore crucial for companies to inform, engage and mobilize their employees truly and sustainably. We've listed some tips for you below:
- Through associations. Many companies are committed to Sidaction or through the AIDES association for example. Aid can be provided in a variety of ways. Your company or foundation can contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS at various levels of commitment: financial, human, political... The forms of support are also varied and numerous: sponsorship, product sharing, skills sponsorship, donations in kind, temporary provision of equipment...
- Through the implementation of programs. For example, Sida-Entreprises, a coalition launched in 2003, brings together a hundred French companies based in Africa. It is chaired by Alain Viry, the CEO of CFAO (PPR group). The role of these groups is to disseminate coherent anti-AIDS programs in companies, by sharing the “best practices” of the most advanced groups.
- Through Challenges...
To respond in a sustainable way, take advantage of the benefits of gamification to get your messages across, and encourage action! The objective? Raise awareness among your teams about the fight against HIV through challenges, quizzes, quizzes, surveys and turnkey content, created by La Rédac' OuiLive.
What if you too involve your employees in a connected Challenge to raise awareness and take action? Contact us right here.
