Victims: Discrimination in society more painful than having the virus

PEOPLE WITH HIV TELL TALE OF WOE

They are living with a still incurable virus in their blood. But the discrimination they continue to experience from society is even more painful to bear than having the disease.

Rolly (not his real name) contracted the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when he was 18 years old. Now, 33, and living with the virus for 15 years, Rolly painfully recounts to the painful experiences and humiliation he suffered for being HIV positive.

HIV is a virus that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) which is an incurable disease.

“Mas mamatay pa tingali ko sa mga diskriminasyon sa mga tawo kay sa HIV (Discrimination from people might even kill me first than the HIV),” he said.

“Nakasuway ko ana, katong didto sa Manila, kaming mga HIV positive i-padlock mi ug kwarto, nya ang among pagkaon patiran ra sa ilawOm sa portahan (I experienced that when I was in Manila, we, who are HIV positive, were locked in a room and those who served us food would kick it under the door), ” said Rolly.

Rolly used to work as a dancer in a bar in Manila and could have possibly spread the virus unconsciously to several people while working there.

He said he even unconsciously infected his wife with the virus. His wife died 10 years ago.

Rolly said his wife’s family abandoned them when they learned that they were HIV positive.

It was very painful to bear watching his wife die of AIDS, he said.

After his wife died, Rolly felt all alone in the harsh world.

“Ganahan na lang pod gani ko mamatay. Lisod kaayo basta ikaw ra usa. Wa namay molaban ug mosoporta nako (I wanted to die because I was alone. There’s no one now to defend me or support me), he said.

Fortunately, he found solace from a group of people also living with HIV – Positive Action Foundation Philippines – who supported him.

The group has given new hope to Rolly, who met his second wife, Ana (not her real name), also an HIV positive member of the organization.

Unlike majority of people with HIV, Ana got the virus when she was raped by her boss when she worked as a domestic helper in the Middle East.

Her live-in partner left her seven years ago after he found out that she had HIV.

Ana said she also got her share of discrimination for being HIV positive. She couldn’t find work because she was no longer allowed to work abroad because of her HIV.

Ana, however, draws strength from her eight-year-old son.

“Naay uban sa akong mga silingan nga mosungog sa akong anak nga, “iyang mama naay aids, naay AIDS (Some of our neighbors would taunt my son – your mom has AIDS),” she said.

“Mosokol man pod ko, bahala nag akoy inyong bastoson, basta ayaw lang kong anak (I would fight for him. It’s okay if they would make fun of me but they shouldn’t do that to my son),” Ana said.

But now, Ana has Rolly and both of them are calling on those who have HIV not to be afraid and never to lose hope.

“Daghan pa siguro karon nga nagtago kay mahadlok sila mahibaw-an nga HIV positive,” Ana said.

The couple and their group are reaching out to those people.

Rolly said the organization conducts spiritual guidance and counseling to people who find it hard to accept their fate.

Their group coordinates with local health centers to reach out to people who have newly been diagnosed with HIV.

“Amo pod naagian ilang kahimtang. Makasabot mi unsa kalisod. Mao na willing mi motabang, kay dili baya matapos ang kalibutan sa taw kung naa silay HIV (We have been there. We understand their difficulties. That is why we are willing to help. It’s not the end of the world if you have HIV),” Rolly said.

Being HIV-positive, Ana and Rolly have to take anti-retro viral drugs for the rest of their lives. A tablet of ARV costs around P1,000. But Ana and Rolly receive the medicine for free from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center or at local government health centers.

Despite the assistance, Ana said the government would need to do more by providing more jobs and livelihood programs to those with HIV.

She said it had been difficult to find a job considering their health.

She said she hoped the government would fund programs that would empower people with HIV.

PAFP is funded by different international groups which want to help people with HIV.

Rolly also said that the discrimination of people with HIV was caused by the public’s ignorance about HIV.

He said if people will be aware on how HIV is transmitted, then they wouldn’t fear them.

“Kung ang mga taw man gud makadungog ug HIV, mahadlok dayon. Sakit ui kung ang mga taw lod-on nimo. Dapat makahibaw gyug unta sila kung unsa gyud nang HIV (When people hear the word HIV, they are afraid. It hurts when people avoid you. They should be informed about HIV),” said Rolly, who hails from a southern town in Cebu.

Cebu Provincial Board Agnes Magpale, chairperson of the Committee for Women and Children, said their pro-women programs and ordinances were also aimed at lessening the spread of HIV-AIDS in Cebu.

“We are more focused on the preventive side,” Magpale said.

She said that the Capitol’s programs on anti-human trafficking and the linggam ban resolution indirectly help prevent the spread of the HIV virus since most of these diseases are transmitted through prostitution.

She said the Provincial health office had also laid out programs to help people with the virus.

“It’s a health problem which needs to be addressed quickly,” she said.

She also said that they were crafting ways to help fight discrimination of people with HIV.

She, however, didn’t specify what these plans are.

In the meantime, according to the research of Remedios Aids Foundation Inc, stigma and discrimination towards people with HIV is very common.

Part of their list are lost jobs, forced disclosure of HIV status to enter another country and medical maltreatment.

According to the study, being ridiculed, insulted and verbal harassment are the common discrimination acts that a person with HIV positive experience.

One of their respondents, who narrated her ordeal to the media, entered a food chain together with a non-HIV positive friend but were told leave the store. It turned out that the management of the food chain watched the TV interview and recognized her as the HIV positive person in the interview.

Republic Act No. 8504 states that people with HIV are protected by the law against discriminatory acts. According to the law, a compulsory HIV testing is not allowed and an HIV positive person shall be given proper medical treatment.

“All discriminatory acts and policies referred to in this Act shall be punishable with a penalty of imprisonment for six (6) months to four (4) years and a fine not exceeding Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00),” the law said.

But Dr. Ilya Tac-an, head of STD/HIV detection unit of Cebu City Health Department, said the law against discrimination of HIV positive persons is somewhat ineffective.

“When a person living with HIV would file a case, that would mean he would have to disclose his identify that would lead to more discrimination acts in the future,” he said.

“So far, I have not yet encountered any one who have used the law yet, maybe because they are also afraid,” she added.

She said the public should not be scared or be frightened because HIV can only be transferred through sex and blood transfusion.

She said that HIV could not be transferred through kissing.

She said that people with HIV would have to take Anti Retro Viral Drug to prevent HIV from turning into full blown AIDS.

She said they had been conducting an information drive to educate the public about HIV.

“Dapat unta ang media motabang ani. Usahay man gud ang media, kay mura man gipagawas nga dapat kahadlokan mi. Imbes sila maoy unta among tingog, mura man noon nga gidaugdaug pod mi nila” Rolly said. –Fatrick Tabada, Cebu Daily News wITH A REPORT FROM CANDEZE R. MONGAYA