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Questions often asked about HIV...
Here is where you will find some answers to many myths and misconceptions about HIV.
There is only 3 modes of transmission, 3 ways that the virus can make it in to your blood stream and infect you
By unprotected sexual intercourse
By sharing needles or unclean blood products, exposure to blood
By Mother to child - breastfeeding or in some situations giving birth (only if the Mother is HIV+)
Therefore, you CANNOT get HIV by:
Shaking hands or hugging and/or kissing
Tears or sweat, sneezing or coughing
Using other peoples cups, utensils, towels or bed linen
Eating from the same plate
Using a toilet
Insect bites
Caring for someone who is sick with HIV advanced infection
Sharing a house with someone who is sick or dying from HIV-related illness
"When my whānau found out. I was terrified, I didn't know how they were going to treat me.....
I went to the marae, and they wouldn't let me cook, or do the dishes. I was so disheartened, it took many
years to help them understand that I can cook, do dishes and even share cups with them."
"I volunteered to teach Kapa Haka at a local High School, I loved Kapa Haka, had been doing it all my life. The teacher knew I had HIV, he got the parents to complain to the principal, and they stopped me from teaching the kids. How do you tell people that you can't get HIV by spending time with me?"
Some experiences from Māori living with HIV...