HIV prevention can never be effective

HIV prevention can never be effective
without AIDS treatment, care and
support components. The SAVE model
combines HIV prevention and AIDS
treatment, care and support components,
as well as providing messages to
counter stigma.
The adoption of SAVE does not imply
the abandonment of abstinence. The
‘S’, for ‘safer practices’ includes
abstinence as well as a wide range of
evidence-based HIV prevention
interventions such as safe blood for
blood transfusion; barrier methods
for penetrative sexual intercourse;
sterile needles and syringes for
injecting; safer methods for scarification
and adoption of universal medical
precautions. While abstinence remains
a reliable method of avoiding exposure
to sexually transmitted infections, it must
not be taught in isolation. It is vital that
information is always available on a wide
range of evidence-based HIV prevention
interventions.
‘A’ refers to available medications.
Antiretroviral therapy is by no means the
only medical intervention needed by
people living with HIV. Long before it may
be necessary, or desirable, for a person
to commence antiretroviral therapy, some
HIV-related opportunistic infections will
need to be treated. Treatment of these
infections results in improved quality of
life, better health and longer term survival.
Furthermore, every person needs good
nutrition and clean water, and this is
doubly true for people living with HIV.
‘V’ refers to voluntary counselling and
testing. Individuals who know their HIV
status are in a better position to protect
themselves from infection; and if they
are HIV-positive, from infecting others.
People who know that they are HIVpositive
can be provided with information
and support to enable them to live
positively. Those who know that they
are HIV-negative may have an incentive
to adhere to ‘S’. People, who are
ignorant of their HIV status or who are
not cared for, are more vulnerable and
can be potential sources of new HIV
infections.
‘E’ refers to empowerment through
education. It is not possible to make
informed decisions about any aspect of
HIV or sexual or other behaviours
without access to all the relevant facts.
Inaccurate information and ignorance
are two of the greatest factors driving
HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
Correct, non-judgmental information
needs to be disseminated to all, inside
and outside churches. This will assist
people to live positively – whatever their
HIV status – and to break down barriers
which HIV has created between people
and within communities. Education also
includes information on good nutrition,
stress management and the need for
physical exercise.
HIV is a virus. The development and
implementation of HIV preventive
strategies should be based on public
health measures and human rights
principles. The behavioural patterns that
make people susceptible to HIV may
have moral implications. Strengthening
the value systems in communities
without simplistic moralization is vital to
enhancing prevention strategies.
However, working against scientifically
proven preventive measures is both
unethical and detrimental to life.