Have you ever thought of how poisonous the words you spit the about an HIV victim can be?
Well, I have been thinking of it and all I can say is that stigma is so real.
They may not go complaining of how poorly they are treated or even how people refuse to shake their hands.
But just try to fit in the shoes of someone who loses the love of friends and family because of their health.
Someone who won't walk in public because people will keep staring at her and pointing fingers at her while murmuring words that she/he can only believe are "that woman/man is positive?"
This person's children too are victims. No child can play with them since they have heard their parents say about the man or woman who has HIV.
And since children do not know how to carefully choose their words, some will even tell their peer, "mum said your mum is HIV positive," You can only imagine the damage and trauma such a child is subjected to.
They can't concentrate in class and they will also be socially inactive. But what's the big deal really about being HIV positive? I am not saying the disease is better than other diseases, but there is no big issue to keep yapping about a HIV victim.
They are patients like other patients suffering from malaria or typhoid! We forget that sometimes it's not the making of a HIV victim to contact the virus.
Some were born with it while others were faithful partners in marriage but their spouses practised extra-marital sex and infected them.
It's so mean of us to sideline and talk ill of people just because of their status. When a person is sick of any other disease, we look after them, show concern and give words of hope to them.
But what happens to the HIV victims? We neglect them and leave them to die out distress and loneliness. That is what we do! What if we chose to be caring, loving and shower the HIV victims with words of love and hope?
Couldn't they enjoy a longer stay on this planet? It does not cost us a penny to share love and make someone's life better and longer.