My perspectives on Stigmatization of persons who are HIV positive
As World AIDS Day draws close, I have been reflecting on what has been done to ensure that those of us who are HIV positive will have enhanced prospects of living healthier and longer lives and getting cured from the disease.
Over the years, the negative stigma that has been aligned to HIV/AIDS has continued to demoralize many of those who suffer with the disease or are HIV positive. Commendable efforts are being made by concerned groups and institutions to diminish the perpetuation of this stigma and reduce hysteria by publicizing facts and information about the disease. While there appears to be some level of progress, the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS still lingers in our societies.
Stigma affects victims in different forms and fashions, and no matter how disguised it may be, it is often very painful to those who are affected by it. In the current era of internet and social media, it is much easier to reach a large number of people in a short period of time, and this medium can be used to great advantage to further the suppression of this stigma and raise awareness of the need to find a cure for HIV and AIDS.
Similar to the way by which people are treated with empathy and compassion when they are afflicted with incurable diseases such as cancer and leukemia, persons suffering from HIV and AIDS also deserve to be treated with kindness, love and compassion instead of being stigmatized and discriminated against. Such discrimination acts as a barrier to psychological acceptance of the person's condition and doesn't help the afflicted on their path to better healing. It does not matter in which way the person contracted the disease, the fact of the matter is that he or she has been diagnosed and should not not be treated inhumanely.
As a person who is HIV positive, I went through several difficult psychological phases before I could get to the point where I felt strong enough to be myself both internally and externally, and be able to ignore the effects of being stigmatized. Through some of those phases I was fortunate to have received at times, kind words of comfort and solidarity extended to me, as well an attentive ear from others when I needed to talk or be listened to, even in times when I didn't know how to express my deepest pain. I truly appreciate everyone who has been there for me whenever I needed them.
I believe it is a blessing to persons suffering from 'stigma-prone' diseases such as HIV and AIDS to have persons in their family, friends, co-workers, etc., who are willing to support them emotionally and unconditionally, as this contributes immensely to their feeling of well being and gives them confidence to live their lives as any other human being. Kind words help their healing, while stigmatization and discrimination only serves to alter such healing.
Stigmatization of persons living with HIV and AIDS must be resisted by our society at all costs.
Photo taken at the United Nations Headquarters.