5 Ignorant (and Sometimes Infuriating) Things People Say About HIV/AIDS

The Red Whistle is an awareness campaign for HIV.
Those who wish to learn more about the infection
should check them out.

I have to be honest. I wrote this because I saw some pretty nasty comments online about PLHIV and many of them are pretty darn ignorant. I really hate it when people blab about things they have no idea about or they haven't understood completely. I'm hoping that people are just ignorant, because if they aren't then they're just cruel. Faith in humanity, gone. 

Then again, it is the internet and we are on social media. People can say anything they want (mostly; please remember we have the Cybercrime Law now). But this doesn't mean that the ignorant and infuriating words can't be corrected and criticized, especially in my blog. This is Codswallop after all. 

So, people who blab without thinking, here's a fair warning: Anything you say can and may be used against you. 

As usual, if you dislike reading, this article isn't for you. I'm going to be putting in a LOT of references that nerds like me love to nibble on. Links galore! 

1. "Gays caused AIDS."

No. HIV causes AIDS. It is a virus that attacks the immune system, causing it to become inefficient in eliminating infectious diseases. The end stage of the HIV infection is the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. Regardless of how fab gays are, I think it's beyond their awesome gayness to make a virus. Unless that awesome gayness is intertwined heavily with microbiology and genetics, of course.

In the 1980s a group of homosexual males were found to be suffering from Pneumocystis carinii, an infection which occurs on immune deficient individuals. This eventually led to the discovery of HIV. Then, it was called GRID or Gay-Related Immune Deficiency. 

For a comprehensive look at the history of HIV, check out this timeline.

We're not in the 1980s anymore, ladies and gentlemen, and it has been proven that HIV, unlike members of the Idiot Society, does not discriminate. Educational status, financial standing, and race do not shield one from HIV. It can affect men, women, children, the poor, the rich, the educated, the heterosexual, the homosexual, and the homosexual. In fact in some Malaysia, the "feminization of HIV" is becoming a trend, particularly among sex workers. This means that more and more women are becoming infected. 

Unfortunately, fundies are taking advantage of the high prevalence of HIV in gay men  and Men Having Sex with Men to further homophobic and even religious agendas. Claiming that "gays cause AIDS" is not only intellectually dishonest, it is also increasing the stigma and discrimination against the MSMs and homosexual men. In fact, these key population suffer double stigma - for their sexual preferences and practice, and their sero-positive status. 

Stigma related to the infection has detrimental effects in the treatment and eradication of disease. Sero-positive individuals and key population such as MSMs and homosexuals are often branded by the conservatives of society as sexually promiscuous and practicing sexual acts that are frowned upon. To save themselves from being "marked", most people would rather forego testing for HIV and even acquiring treatment and counselling for it. This is why our progress with combating the infection is slow.

The cause of AIDS is HIV, not people's sexual identity.

For more ignorant comments, check out the feedback in this article.

2. "AIDS doesn't matter."

Maybe I just have a weird sense of humor, but I find this joke lame at best, stupid and offensive at worst:

"Anung gusto mong magkaroon, HIV o AIDS?

Ako AIDS... 

Coz AIDS doesn't matter."

Translation for my English readers:

"What do you want to have, HIV or AIDS?

I'd rather have AIDS...

Coz AIDS doesn't matter."

What's worse is that I found it posted in a Facebook wall of a NURSE. God forbid our nurses have become so insensitive as to joke about HIV/AIDS. 

Does he mean that AIDS shouldn't matter because we should treat everyone equally and not discriminate? I hope so. And that hope was shattered. Unfortunately, many people joke about the infection, stating that it doesn't matter, and truly believe that it doesn't matter. Either they haven't seen the stats, they haven't heard the news, or they live under a rock.

DOH made it clear that the problem is far from a laughing matter.

Obviously those numbers are no joke. For more information, you can check out the HIV Registry in the DOH website. Sorry I couldn't link it here. As of this posting, the website is still down. 

3. "HIV is a punishment from God."

Seriously? Some people still believe this? No wonder the Philippines is still 3rd world. 

4. "The government should require key population to get tested."

I see the wisdom in mandatory HIV test. It will (1) ensure that more people are aware of their status and (2) allow identified PLHIVs to start treatment early. But mandatory testing should be last resort, primarily because it runs over several more logical solutions to the HIV problem and people's rights to autonomy in health care.

Point 1: It is against the law. 

Let us look at Section 15 of RA8504, also known as the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Contril of 1998.

"Sec. 15. Consent as a requisite for HIV testing. — No compulsory HIV testing shall be allowed. However, the State shall encourage voluntary testing for individuals with a high risk for contracting HIV: Provided, That written informed consent must first be obtained. Such consent shall be obtained from the person concerned if he/she is of legal age or from the parents or legal guardian in the case of a minor or a mentally incapacitated individual."

Argument 2: If the DOH would like to push for mandatory HIV testing, they would have to court several legislators to lobby it in Congress. This would take time and money. I am all for the amendment of the AIDS Law (it's 2014; a law made in 1988 definitely needs an upgrade) but focus should be in more aggressive actions to prevent the disease and not assaulting discriminated population to undergo a procedure against their will. Also, more sustainable solutions to providing ARVs to People Living with HIV (PLHIVs) should be considered in the amendment.

Read more of the AIDS Law here.

Point 3: In developmental work key population can mean high risk population. In the Philippines, this means homosexuals and MSMs and perhaps sex workerd, who are most commonly infected by HIV. These people are already stigmatized and discriminated. Mandatory testing will take away consent of patients when it comes to medical procedures. It undermines the principle of  client autonomy. It is against human rights.

Mandatory HIV testing may also lead to further discrimination against PLHIV. While it is stipulated in the AIDS Law that a sero-positive individual cannot be turned away from study or employment due to his or her status, being forced to go through the test may still discriminatory repercussions on KPs and increase the stigma against them. 

Point 4: There are better ways to get someone tested, and it is not making the test mandatory. Why not put money on massive education campaigns that would make people want to take the test and not fear it?

Recently, the DOH Secretary Enrique Ona made a statement regarding mandatory HIV testing. He was shot down by several advocacy groups and was reminded by the palace of the legalities of managing HIV. There are better ways to address the increasing number of HIV/AIDS. Education that includes key population AND people who have lower risk in getting the disease should be priority one. Not only will this help eliminate the myths and misconceptions about HIV, it will also help with the stigma surrounding the infection. reduction of stigma may allow people to be more open in terms of getting themselves tested. Another essential action is ensure sustainability in treatment and counselling for PLHIV.

Picture is from the ever-awesome Internet

5. "May HIV ka? Yuck, don't touch me!"

An exaggeration, but not quite far from the truth. A lot of people who misunderstand the pathology of the infection believe that HIV is easily translated. Honestly, there is a higher probability that one will catch a common cold, for the simple reason that HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids (semen, pre-cum, vaginal secretions, and breast milk). Unless there is a transfer of these fluids from the PLHIV to a sero-negative individual, say through unprotected sexual contact or broken skin, HIV will not be transferred so easily. 

From HIVandHepatitis.com

Learn more about the HIV transmission here.

People who are ignorant about the communicability of HIV and and who stigmatize PLHIV based from how most people are infected (unprotected sex) believe that even casual contact with PLHIV would cause them to acquire the infection. This is far from true and why this writer used the word "ignorant". You can hug a PLHIV, kiss a PLHIV, even have safe, satisfying sex with a PLHIV partner and still be HIV-free.

I'm really bad at concluding my posts, but really there's just one lesson to be learned here: HIV is a disease that, although not 100% understood (we have yet to find a cure), can be studied in many books and materials. All you have to do is go on Google and read with open eyes and an open mind. Read and understand something before opening your mouth. If you don't care about hurting people's hearts with your insensitivity and people's brain with your ignorance, at least care about your reputation. Wouldn't want to be branded as stupid, would you?

Related Article:

But I'm Your Best Friend! HIV/AIDS Talk and the UPLB Experience

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