MAN DIE OF AIDS AS A RESULT OF STIGMA

After twelve years of living with HIV, I'm only realizing now that I am one of the few people to count themselves lucky due to the support, care and love I received from my family and friends

A man, die of AIDS after the family abandoned him at the hospital
The man tested positive to HIV 1&2 at Aba, Abia State in the year 2006 and went on to take herbal concoction, after taking herbal concoction for more than six months, He became very sick and was referred to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi (NAUTH) from there he was referred to join Support Group of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Ekwulobia (Health Link Organization). The man joined the group and was placed on ARV after undergoing series of test not knowing that the Herbal concoction he took in the past has destroyed his body system.
His illness got worsens and his family abandoned him to die since they are aware of his status. His elder sister took him to her family where she cared for him for one week and decides taking him back to their parents who refused to accept him back.

With financial assistance and commitment of Health Link Organization, he was admitted in a private hospital at Ekwulobia. None of the family members cared to look after him even while he was in the hospital. The doctor discharged him and he died two days after he was discharged from the hospital. When he was discharged, the family members do not want to touch him. It was the Coordinator of Health Link Organization and some members of the Organization that came and assists him to enter the vehicle.

What shall we say, what hope is there for the future of people living with HIV in the rural communities? Life with HIV can be as normal as life without HIV. We all have a role to play in spreading the word. Stigma and discrimination pose major barriers to controlling the spread of HIV in the rural area. There is acceptance of the virus at the highest level in urban cities, lots needs to be done to make it (the disease) acceptable in the society especially in the rural areas, which is still in a denial mode. We need to step up the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS and make sure we are able to deal with it more like a public health issue. Undoubtedly, information is readily available to all of us, but until it reaches the hearts and minds of people and until we move to support CSOs working in the rural communities so as to bring about a change in behaviors in these rural communities, the stigma and discrimination will continue to fester.
Hearing and knowing is one thing, but feeling it is something else. Often we do not understand what someone is going through until the shoe is on our foot and that need not be. Perhaps, if we all open our minds, hearts and accept PLWHA, not just letting the information being disseminated come through one ear and go through the other, but listen, ponder and embrace it, then compassion would come much easier.
Let us joins our hand and support people living with HIV and AIDS in our country let us look down to the rural populace, let us support CSOs working in the rural area,
Together we will win.