By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite all the talk about being sympathetic towards the HIV+ people, discrimination is a way of life for patients suffering from the disease with many being of the view that acceptance from society has largely remained a myth.
There are around 2300 HIV+ people in Meghalaya right now including over 100 patients below the age of 15 and only 2110 among them are registered.
People living with the virus as well as their families spoke about discrimination, which sometimes is more difficult to handle than the disease itself, during a candlelight service held on Sunday in memory of those who lost the battle to the disease.
Adelbert Nongrum, Jaiaw MDC, speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion, encouraged patients and activists present to be “the light of hope for those facing hopelessness”.
Observing that most patients detected with the disease do not come forward to reveal their HIV+ status, he said, “Being silent is the biggest crime. People diagnosed with the disease should not be shy of coming out for fear of stigmatization. One harms oneself by not coming out.”
He also said that it was high time that patients as well as those campaigning against the disease were given special recognition.
Nongrum also gave a personal example to imbibe the sense of confidence and fighting spirit.
“I had a major accident 12 years back and was in coma for over a month while for seven years I had to walk with the support of crutches,” he revealed.
He added that preventive measures should be taken by the Government and to extend all help to the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS).
Speaking to reporters after the programme, Nongrum said that the Government can do better to provide the best platform as far as extending help to the patients is concerned.
He observed that there were patients residing in far flung areas who were unable to avail better treatment facilities due to poor transportation network and unavailability of accommodation.
“I appeal to the State Government to provide a relief house for a day or a week to enable the patients to get better treatment,” he said.
People speak of discrimination
Earlier in the programme, a relative of an HIV+ patient spoke out against the negative attitude of society towards such people.
“My aunt refused treatment as she feared discrimination and stigmatization by the society. Even after her death, her children bore the brunt of such prejudice.”
Meanwhile, The Shillong Times caught up with a few HIV+ patients present at the candlelight memorial who spoke about their life post the diagnosis.
Many revealed that they contracted the disease from their husbands.
“I did not know that I got it from my husband. I have no idea about HIV, though he himself received treatment from army,” a patient said.
“The doctors asked me to go for blood test after diagnosing me with tuberculosis and then discovered that I am HIV+,” said another.
Reacting to a query on their first reaction after they were told of their status, one of them said, “I did not know how to express (my feelings), I thought I was going to die. At that time there was no proper counseling and I received proper counseling only after 2006.”
A few others sank into depression but after counseling and continual support from close ones they were able to pull themselves together and lead a normal life.
On asking about how their relationships with loved ones have changed, one patient said, “Stigma and discrimination in the society is still there. Even in the Church, the people would often tell me to stay away from them and not to sit with the rest of the people.”
It is a similar hard reality for another patient. “My youngest daughter is 8 years old and is HIV positive but my eldest one is not, the latter is facing discrimination in her school. As for me I’m well trained and cannot disclose my status to everyone,” she revealed.
“After being aware of my disease, my family was scared but now they have learnt to cope with it. My daughter is undergoing treatment. I was even discriminated in the hospital,” she added.
She informed that her daughter’s plight compelled her to come forward and question the societal norms of non-acceptance of HIV+ especially children.
To have a positive attitude towards life was the only way to free themselves from the bondage of discrimination felt several of the patients.
Another patient who is currently an outreach worker for Meghalaya State Network for Positive people (MSNP+) said that patients usually felt discriminated but have to be given confidence to take things into control.