Is there anything positive?
Feb 13, 2007
FACE HIV<br><b>with Dr. Watiti</v><br><br>Dear Doctor, <br>I am HIV positive and I would like to join the fight against stigma because I know it is the one behind denial, which has complicated the fight against HIV/AIDS. My problem, however, is that there is nothing positive one can say about th
FACE HIV
with Dr. Watiti
Dear Doctor,
I am HIV positive and I would like to join the fight against stigma because I know it is the one behind denial, which has complicated the fight against HIV/AIDS. My problem, however, is that there is nothing positive one can say about this disease and that is what fuels stigma. Everything is so negative that everyone wants to have nothing to do with HIV/AIDS. Is there anything positive I can say about HIV/AIDS to change people’s attitude for the better?
Molly
Dear Molly,
As you rightly note, stigma is actually what fuels the spread of HIV and makes it difficult to fight the scourge. However, as the saying goes, “every cloud has a silver liningâ€. In the beginning of our fight against HIV, we stressed so much the negative things about the disease in a bid to help people who were not yet infected avoid it. But this was a double-edged sword because the same message told the people who were already infected that they were possibly immoral and doomed since HIV had no cure. Many of these responded by denying they were either immoral or had the HIV. Now as you know, nowhere in history has anybody overcome a problem by denying they have it!
Many of these infected people continue to live “normal†lives; marrying and getting children with the possibility of spreading the virus. It may be difficult to find something positive to say about HIV but we could, for example, capitalise on the fact that this is a disease that is actually preventable. Take, for example, HIV in children. If every couple that intends to get a baby went for an HIV test before conception, we could reduce new infections in children drastically. Many people who are HIV positive would possibly choose to reconsider their decision and those who choose to go ahead would probably seek help early to help them get an HIV negative child.
Another positive thing we can say about HIV/AIDS is that although it is incurable it is now manageable. People living with HIV (PLWA) need not live in constant fear of death. With ARVs, PLWAs can live a fairly normal life. People who are married could, for example, go for an HIV test to mark their wedding anniversary or birthdays. This way, HIV would be reduced and even eradicated like we have done with polio.
Choose one area and do your best. Wish you success as you consider joining the fight.
Send your question on HIV to Health Editor, The New Vision,
P. O. Box 9815, Kampala or
health&beauty@newvision.co.ug
with Dr. Watiti
Dear Doctor,
I am HIV positive and I would like to join the fight against stigma because I know it is the one behind denial, which has complicated the fight against HIV/AIDS. My problem, however, is that there is nothing positive one can say about this disease and that is what fuels stigma. Everything is so negative that everyone wants to have nothing to do with HIV/AIDS. Is there anything positive I can say about HIV/AIDS to change people’s attitude for the better?
Molly
Dear Molly,
As you rightly note, stigma is actually what fuels the spread of HIV and makes it difficult to fight the scourge. However, as the saying goes, “every cloud has a silver liningâ€. In the beginning of our fight against HIV, we stressed so much the negative things about the disease in a bid to help people who were not yet infected avoid it. But this was a double-edged sword because the same message told the people who were already infected that they were possibly immoral and doomed since HIV had no cure. Many of these responded by denying they were either immoral or had the HIV. Now as you know, nowhere in history has anybody overcome a problem by denying they have it!
Many of these infected people continue to live “normal†lives; marrying and getting children with the possibility of spreading the virus. It may be difficult to find something positive to say about HIV but we could, for example, capitalise on the fact that this is a disease that is actually preventable. Take, for example, HIV in children. If every couple that intends to get a baby went for an HIV test before conception, we could reduce new infections in children drastically. Many people who are HIV positive would possibly choose to reconsider their decision and those who choose to go ahead would probably seek help early to help them get an HIV negative child.
Another positive thing we can say about HIV/AIDS is that although it is incurable it is now manageable. People living with HIV (PLWA) need not live in constant fear of death. With ARVs, PLWAs can live a fairly normal life. People who are married could, for example, go for an HIV test to mark their wedding anniversary or birthdays. This way, HIV would be reduced and even eradicated like we have done with polio.
Choose one area and do your best. Wish you success as you consider joining the fight.
Send your question on HIV to Health Editor, The New Vision,
P. O. Box 9815, Kampala or
health&beauty@newvision.co.ug