A tale of living with, and conquering the AIDS scourge
“I was very thin and weak. I can’t even stand,” a 36-year-old Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patient said as he recalled his dire, dim situation six years ago before he took first medication.
But during his testimony at the AIDS Candle Light Memorial 2017 in Valenzuela City Wednesday night, he stood firmly and challenged the community to fight the HIV-AIDS stigma.
Six years ago, the patient said that he was so afraid to admit that he has AIDS and the stigma attached to it.
Face your fears He said that he was initially very hesitant to take medications, fearing that he would be judged and isolated.
“If I let my fear overcome me, I could have been dead by now. I will not be standing here in front of you,” he said.
Change has come “I can see my bones sticking out because I lost 30 kilos six years ago. But look at me now, I am now an advocate and I regained my weight,” he said.
“I am now living a normal life just like everyone else.”
He said that he became an HIVAIDS advocate so that others who were infected will not suffer the same fate.
Get tested “I want people not to be scared to get tested. In case they turnout positive, I want them to know that it is not the end yet,” the patient pointed out.
He added that if he managed to live a normal life despite having AIDS, others can too.
Educating millenials The AIDS Candle Light Memorial 2017 at the Valenzuela People’s Park amphitheater was attended by about 300 people, most of them millennials.
A play about the struggle of people living with AIDS was performed by the Valenzuela Center for the Performing Arts.
The moving performance of group left some members of the audience in tears.
Lotus rite After the play, a Lotus Ceremony took place.
The names of the people in the country who succumbed to AIDS were mentioned while candles were lit by participants.
Awareness, community effort
Dr. Josephine G. Diaz, Valenzuela City’s HIV-AIDS health coordinator, said the community must work together to fight the fatal disease, saying the youth must be educated well to prevent the growing number of infection.
“The play about the struggle of people living with AIDS is a very effective way to promote awareness. Since the number of young people being infected of the disease is rising, we want to appeal to millenials,” Diaz said.
“Our team brainstormed and we put in our minds to come up with something that will appeal to the youth,” she explained.
About 35 people in Valenzuela are living with HIV-AIDS, she said.
“The youngest bearer of the disease is a two-year-old child. She inherited it from her mother who was positively diagnosed,” Diaz said.
Global scourge
“In the whole world, the HIV-AIDS cases are very alarming. This is why we are intensifying our programs to promote awareness among young ones,” Dr. Ana Marie Israil, Valenzuela’s HIVAIDS assistant coordinator, noted.
Diaz reiterated that students must be educated about how to prevent HIVAIDS.
She also said the support of the family is crucial.
“The support of the family is very important. Acceptance is a must so that the patient can cope with the stress,” she said.
“We must accept people living with AIDS. They are just like people living with maintenance medicine. We must love them equally,” she ended.