Sarah has been
having fever for some months, regular antibiotics and antimalarials seem not to
produce any remarkable improvement. Occasional diarrhea makes her weak and
feeble. She daily longs to be with her husband, Abubakar, a military man who
was recently posted to Mubi (Adamawa, Nigeria) because of the activities of
BokoHaram (BH). Sarah, mother of two, will not visit the hospital, let alone
have a test done. Her reason she says, was personal! Days glided into weeks, weeks
to months but her symptoms would not abate. A local Nurse who is also a friend
broke her obstinacy and brought her to the hospital. History taking revealed
husband’s occupation as military officer with over 10-years of service; one who
visits his family once in six months and had a history of multiple sexual
partners.
Thereafter, the
doctor counseled her and requested a HIV test.
Immediately, the atmosphere became quiet and
Sarah’s fear became palpable. She looked towards the Nurse and like a sheep to
the slaughter, she was dumb! She tried to pull herself together but tears
failed her. She knew she is HIV positive but the social implication of her
status threatens her to the marrow. With tears she retorted,
"Doctor, I
cannot stand the shame and the rejection that my children and I will go
through, my husband will obviously take another wife and my children will
probably be forced out of school.” She cried and cried…
*********
Another world
HIV/AIDS day is here and I think we need to spare some thoughts for innocent
women like Sarah as they battle stigmatization, discrimination, neglect and
ostracism alongside a positive HIV status. I need not tell you how HIV is
transmitted because you know! I need not bother you on how the virus ruins the
immune system because you are aware! I need not emphasize that AIDS has no cure
because you are well informed! But I must bother you on behavior change towards
victims of HIV/AIDS because it is a threat to pleasant relationships, economic
privileges and social order!
Stigmatization
is an act of putting negative distinguishing mark on people because of their
experience. Just when you start referring to someone whose name you know as
“HIV patient”, there and then you have started stigmatizing. It may be subtle
at first but the societal implication is deep seated. It is a name no one wants
to bear for obvious reasons. So when next you come in contact with people with
HIV; give them a handshake, hug and reassure them, it will go a long way.
The
virus is not spread through casual contact!
Discrimination
on the other hand is a social disadvantage placed on people with HIV. This is
moving a step further; it puts a restriction on patients’ social participation
and interaction. However, we need to be aware that, this action is capable of
preventing voluntary disclosure of status. Loss of Job, employment difficulties,
limitation of participation, restriction of travel, are possible channels of
discrimination. That young qualified graduate that was refused an employment
because of his HIV status is being discriminated against. That middle age woman
whose visa will not be processed because she is living with the virus is being discriminated
against.
Neglect by
family and community members also constitute a social evil imposed on People
Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA). We've heard stories of husbands neglecting
their spouse because of HIV and vice versa. Stories of extended family members
denying bereaved mothers and children a living and livelihood because the
breadwinner died of AIDS are common around us. Unavailability of antiretroviral
drugs, lack of care and social support for AIDS orphan, PLHA, People Affected
By AIDS (PABA) cannot be overemphasized.
The last strike
and definitely the most severe is
ostracism. Countless number of people have
been sent out of their communities and abandoned in various leprosariums all
over the country. This punitive measure meted against leprosy patients is gradually
creeping into the way HIV/AIDS patients are being handled. Contrary to
widespread myth however, HIV/AIDS is not ‘special’ because:
- It is a
chronic, incurable disease like cancer, hypertension and diabetes
- It is
blood borne like Hepatitis B and C virus
- Sexually
transmitted like Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Herpes
- Preventable like every other diseases of public
health importance
Therefore, the paranoia and disgust
associated with HIV/AIDS is baseless and unfounded. Truth be told, we will be
doing ourselves a great deal of favor if we change our behavior towards
HIV/AIDS victims. If we stigmatize them, they won’t own up to their status,
this will lead to concealment of cases and ultimately to clandestine spread of
the virus. If we discriminate against them, they will be furious and this can
lead to vengeful spread of the virus. Whichever way, more people will become
infected, the burden of the disease multiplies and more deaths ensue.
The UN secretary
general Ban KI Moon says “
stigma is a chief reason why AIDS epidemic continues
to devastate societies around the world”.
Letz us not
forget the increasing spate of insurgency around the world and its effects on
HIV/AIDS ; Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS),
BokoHaram etc, all tend to increase the number of internally displaced persons
and refugees with disruption of family lives and homes, consequent upon this
can be spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS.
The abduction of
over 200 school girls in Nigeria over 7months ago with theories of them being
married off to unknown men or the possibility of them being used as sex slaves
is not only heartbreaking but pathetic especially if HIV transmission is found
in the mix.
Time will fail me to talk about rape and
forced marriages, whose victims are now suffering from HIV/AIDS. The sad
episode may get worse, the frustration may escalates and the hopelessness may
become irretrievable if we continue to stigmatize, discriminate, neglect or
worse still ostracize these innocent souls. Our behavior must change and the time
to start is now!
Stop the Stigma, Don’t Discriminate, No to Neglect, Oppose Ostracism
and End this social Evil.
Charles T. Olomofe
(M.B.Ch.B)
Health and Behavioral
Change Advocate
charlesolomofe@yahoo.com
Twitter: @Chartol1
N.B- The names in this article are
fictitious-any coincidence is not intended.
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