Gives a hand to (4)
I believe the answer is:
aids
'gives a hand to' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for aids that I've seen before include "Condition following infection with HIV virus" , "Helps with a dread disease" , "Comes to the rescue" , "Said to be an international disease" , "Said to be a modern plague" .)