About us
  Company Registration
Business Name Registration
  Industrial Property
  From the Registrar's Office
  Fees Schedule
 

 
 

HOME
   
   
   
   
   
 
               
 

The PACRO HIV / AIDS Committee at Place of Work

 

PACRO participated in the Inter-Company Relay dubbed "HIV/AIDS a threat to human future development, let's all  rally behind women and children"


PACRO relay members relaxing after the grueling event.
 
What is HIV/AIDS?

AIDS is a deadly disease that is caused by a  Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It stands for Human Immuno-deficiency Virus. The affected individual is susceptible to diseases because the immunity is destroyed by the HIV. Infected individuals suffer from  opportunistic diseases such as Tuberculosis, Chronic Diarrhoea, Herpes zoster Pneumonia, Candida,  and many more hence the name Acquired Immunal Deficiency Syndrome.

How is it transmitted?

  • Unprotected sex  with an infected person.
  • Blood transfusion from an infected person.
  • Sharing of needles, syringes for injections, common among drug addicts.
  • Mother to child transmission

What are its CLINICAL FEATURES?

Chronic fever for more than one month
Chronic diarrhoea
Weight loss
Chronic cough
Skin rashes

Who is at RISK?

EVERYONE  is at risk but the most affected group is the sexually active group ranging from 15  to 45 years old. This is the group to which the YOUTH belong. Other high risk groups  include: Prostitutes, Homosexuals, those with multiple sexual partners

What is the TREATMENT?

Presently, there is NO CURE for HIV/AIDS. The Anti- Retroviral drugs can boost the immunity and prolong life of an infected person, but they DO NOT cure AIDS. Good nutrition – a balanced diet, is also necessary in the prolonging of an infected person's life.

Can it be PREVENTED?

YES. The best method of AIDS prevention is ABSTINENCE. If you cant abstain,  Be faithful to one partner. You MUST Avoid casual sex. You can also REDUCE rate of infection by using Condoms

Education Minister Andrew Mulenga presenting an award to PACRO's Emmanuel Chisanga for participating in the Inter-Company Relay

  

PACRO DEALING WITH HIV/AIDS ISSUES 

In its ongoing efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, Support to the HIV/AIDS Response in Zambia (SHARe) held a workshop to train Peer Educators on HIV/AIDS On the 16th of  January 2005. Patents and Companies Registration Office (PACRO) was privileged to be one of the organisations represented at the workshop. The following people represented PACRO:

Mr. L. L. Zulu
Mr. E. Chisanga
Mrs. Phallen N. Liwakala
Mrs. Ndonano M. Siuluta 

The four attended this workshop so as to be equipped to    sensitise their work-mates at PACRO. 

During the workshop, which was mainly on sensitisation, it was discovered that people needed to know much more about HIV/AIDS. This was because it is the knowledge that would help them to both prevent infection and live positively with HIV/AIDS if already infected. This same knowledge would influence individual behavior change that plays a significant role in the prevention of HIV infection.   

The participants also learned the importance of what has hitherto been known as Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). This procedure has now been renamed to Counseling, Testing and Care (CTC). CTC is an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV in every situation and in giving the infected peace of mind. CTC also helps the individual to make realistic plans for their future.

Special emphasis was laid on prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT). An HIV positive expectant mother is advised to take precautions against infecting the baby at birth or during breastfeeding. To prevent infection during childbirth, a mother takes a drug called nevirapine. After birth, a mother can protect the baby by not using breastfeeding because this is one way in which the baby can be infected.  

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were also discussed. Most STIs are transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse. They have various negative  effects on the health of an individual including infertility if not treated early enough. STIs can affect both adults and infants. Some STIs such as gonorrhea can be transmitted from the mother to the newborn baby during childbirth. Adverse effects of such transmission of STIs include blindness in the newborn baby.