7 November, 2009 - Coming back home after a week was like coming to a cell of suffocation, social stigma and discrimination.
That was how a 36-year old Bhutanese man, who learnt that he was infected with HIV/AIDS in 2005, felt after spending a week in Thailand in June this year. He was there with three other Bhutanese to see how HIV/AIDS networks there functioned. Thailand has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates.
“I felt comfortable in Thailand where those living with the virus were going public to share their experiences with people. It was one of the rare moments where I felt relaxed and not abnormal,” he said. “Here we’d rather bury our stories. People think you get the virus by just sitting on the same chair.”
But the visit has given them a new sense of purpose. This month a group of Bhutanese people living with the HIV/AIDS established a network or organization Lhak-Sam (altruism or selflessness).
“This network will help those infected or affected by the virus, be it patients or family members,” said the 36-year old man. He is now the voluntary chairman of the new network.
According to health officials, there were about 160 HIV reported cases so far of which 34 people are currently on Antiviral treatments. Others are being monitored every three to six months.
“Opening a network is one of the boldest steps we have taken so far,” he said. “Initially, we hesitated meeting one another fearing that more people will know about us. Thimphu is a small place, I have school going children and I don’t want people passing nasty remarks especially on my family members. I haven’t even told my parents about it.”
Today, despite efforts from the government, non-government organizations, and even students to eliminate the discrimination against HIV/AIDS, it has not changed much.
“We have among us a number of people who are also scared to reveal their problems because of what might happen to them. The network will bring these people together,” said the father of four children. “The aim is to help and support each other and educate the public on HIV/AIDS.”
He said the guilt of giving HIV/AIDS to his 23-year old wife would always haunt him. She is not on antiviral treatment but her immunity level is decreasing, he said.
“I was into injecting drugs. My friends and I used to share used syringes without washing it under the influence of different substances. That’s how I got it,” he said. He also said that his wife cried almost every night during the first seven-eight months. “My three children are free from the virus but my youngest child is still under detection. Doctors say I was diagnosed with the virus at the right time.”
In recent years, about 31 people have succumbed to HIV/AIDS. “Some of these people were our friends,” said the 36-year old. “The fear reappears when we hear of such incidents. At least I have my wife to talk about it. At gatherings or at homes, when we see anything to do with HIV/AIDS on television, we glance at each other.”
Lhak-sam network has about 20 members. According to members, the network has two “very challenging objectives”. “We have to make people comfortable to join the network and fight against social stigma by sharing our stories and experiences. It has to be voluntary,” he said. “The network will also have to create awareness among people on the modes of transmission and ways of preventing the virus. People think that you get the virus only by having sex with a prostitute and nothing else. You know what I mean?”
About 35 housewives, 12 farmers and 5 members of the religious groups are among those detected with the virus. Health officials said that antiviral treatment is most effective when the dose of medicine is taken at an exact given time. Otherwise, the person becomes resistant to the medicine. “The network members will especially help farmers and other illiterate victims on how to keep themselves healthy. We can always exchange mobile numbers and volunteer to remind each other when to take the medicine or what we should and should not do with the virus active in our body,” he said.
Members said that receiving counselling and emotional support from the health officials was also an important part of their lives. “For some of our friends, these counselors are more than family because their real family members have abandoned them,” said the 36-year old man. “With this network, our world will grow.”
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