The risk of the
house-help passing on HIV to the baby and other family members is really
remote if she is counselled concerning her HIV status and she observes
basic principles of hygiene, while carrying out her duties.
HIV is spread from person to person when the uninfected individual comes into contact with bodily fluids of the infected party. The bodily fluids deemed to be infectious are: blood, sexual fluids and breast milk. You realise that it is not easy for one to come into contact with the above mentioned bodily fluids through normal social interactions. What most people seem to fear is intentional transmission of HIV by people living with the disease who are angry and deliberately go out of their way to harm others. This, of course, can be done by anyone who is not necessarily a family member, like a house-help. However, persons living with HIV who have been counselled and are living positively are not angry people. So, your housemaid should be counselled and if she is ready and eligible, she should be put on ARVs. She can then live a fairly normal life and can continue working for you, including caring for your baby.
HIV is spread from person to person when the uninfected individual comes into contact with bodily fluids of the infected party. The bodily fluids deemed to be infectious are: blood, sexual fluids and breast milk. You realise that it is not easy for one to come into contact with the above mentioned bodily fluids through normal social interactions. What most people seem to fear is intentional transmission of HIV by people living with the disease who are angry and deliberately go out of their way to harm others. This, of course, can be done by anyone who is not necessarily a family member, like a house-help. However, persons living with HIV who have been counselled and are living positively are not angry people. So, your housemaid should be counselled and if she is ready and eligible, she should be put on ARVs. She can then live a fairly normal life and can continue working for you, including caring for your baby.
