HIV/AIDS sufferers need humanity

Along to a small road, we arrive at Binh Duong General Hospital’s infectious ward where is isolated with other wards. Inside HIV consultancy room, there are many patients waiting for check up. They wear masks to hide their heads. AIDS-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS. The consequences of stigma and discrimination are wide-ranging: being shunned by family, peers and the wider community, poor treatment in healthcare and education settings, an erosion of rights, psychological damage, and a negative effect on the success of HIV testing and treatment. AIDS stigma and discrimination exist worldwide, although they manifest themselves differently across countries, communities, religious groups and individuals. They occur alongside other forms of stigma and discrimination, such as racism, stigma based on physical appearance, homophobia or misogyny and can be directed towards those involved in what are considered socially unacceptable activities such as prostitution or drug use.

Stigma not only makes it more difficult for people trying to come to terms with HIV and manage their illness on a personal level, but it also interferes with attempts to fight the AIDS epidemic as a whole. On a personal level stigma can make individuals reluctant to access HIV testing, treatment and care.

In addition, HIV sufferers’ relatives also have a common pain. Therefore, it is necessary to have contributions and efforts to help people living with HIV and AIDS integrate into the community. Mr. D.D.H in Ben Cat district, said “My wife and I are living with HIV, but fortunately our son is HIV negative. My son often asks us that why his friends hate him. We are very painful to hear about that”.

Resuscitation

HIV/AIDS has become an urgent issue, owing to increase on the number of HIV-infected people. Over the past time, more than 1,500 HIV-infected cases have been under treatment at the provincial general hospital.

HIV-infected people have become younger. They include workers of construction sector, workers working at industrial parks, teenagers and students…

Discrimination has made HIV-infected patients refuse treatment, causing many pity deaths. As such, doctors and nurses at the provincial General Hospital’s Infectious Ward always encourage together to dedicate to the unlucky patients. Therefore, many HIV-infected patients herein feel that they seem to be relived, thanks to attention and care of doctors and nurses.

T.T.N, a HIV-infected patient, said thanks to care of doctors and nurses, he enjoys a comfortable spirit and believes in life. Many doctors and nurses of the infectious ward have become close friends of HIV-infected patients. They are very happy to see HIV-infected people’s integration into community and optimism in life.

Reported by D.Le, T.Ly – Translated by A.C