Connect with us

Health

Lack of awareness, not people, are to blame for the prevailing prejudices against HIV

Published

7 years ago

on

New Delhi: Lack of awareness, not people, are to blame for the prevailing prejudices against HIV and AIDS in our society, says a 41-year-old HIV-positive woman who has come out in the open to fight the stigma attached to the condition.
 
Mona Balani has had to endure many a caustic remarks of relatives and discriminatory behaviour of the society after she tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) almost 18 years ago.
 
But Balani is no ordinary woman. She is living with HIV and also having a life. She is presently working with the HIV/AIDS Alliance, a non-profit that works towards strengthening the capacity of civil society organisations, government and the private sectors to respond more effectively to HIV/AIDS. She is also a representative of NCPI+ (National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India+).
 
“People are not genuinely ignoring HIV/AIDS patients but are unaware of the facts related to it. If we can educate them about the disease, it will make the people understand the situation better,” Balani said over the phone.
 
Balani’s husband, who also tested positive for HIV in the same year, breathed his last in 2005.
 
“We faced a lot of problems when we spoke to our family about our HIV status. They were simply clueless. Our dear ones gradually started avoiding us. Not even a glass of water was preferred by people who came to visit my husband when he was in a critical condition,” Balani said. 
 
Balani recalled that because of the couple’s HIV status even some hospitals denied to admit her husband at times. She herself also face similar treatment. 
 
“Once I went to a private hospital and after knowing that I am HIV positive they refused to treat me and referred me to another hospital,” said Balani. 
 
Life took a roller coaster ride for Balani after her husband passed away in the year 2005 and was left only with her elder son. 
 
Due to a poor immune system, Balani used to remain unwell most of the times, which further became a reason for her to take refuge at her parents’ home.
 
“One fine day, I suddenly fell sick after which my family took me to a doctor. It was predicted that I am dying of AIDS and my parents were asked to pray for my last breath,” Balani said.
 
“I clearly remember that after they brought me home, I was made to lie on the floor and wrapped with a plain white sheet. All the people gathered there actually started to pray as if they were performing the last rites for me,” she recounted.
 
This incident shook up Balani and she then decided to stand up for herself and undergo further treatment of her illness on her own terms.
 
“My son sat beside me and uttered helplessly ‘Papa left us, you don’t leave me’. I dont know what happened to me and I got up and told them to stop doing this as I am still alive,” she said.
 
“And the very next day I moved out of my house and since then I am taking my own care,” Balani added.
 
Balani is undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) which is a lifelong treatment to suppress the viral load of HIV infection and prevent from other opportunistic infections too. 
 
“ART are medications that treats HIV. The drugs do not kill or cure the virus, but it can reduce the load of virus. Now, we can give ART to any person detected with HIV positive at any CD4 count. With this therapy, a chance of opportunistic infection also falls due to decrease in the viral load,” said Manisha Arora of Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in New Delhi.
 
“If you are mentally strong enough to fight against the stigma, I am sure no one can stop you from living a life the way you want to live,” Balani said.
 
And Balani is not alone who is living with HIV.
 
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2016.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

Published

3 years ago

on

May 4, 2022

By

 

Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

Continue Reading

Trending