Mortified Existence

Rita, a 32 year old, recently widowed, has to relocate to her father’s house. She doesn’t know what to say to her daughter, who misses her friends. They have no visitors nor are they invited in any function or gathering. When, she went to collect her late husband office, no one would even look at her. There are thousands like Veenu, who are reprimanded every day because they are HIV+/AIDS. Rita and her daughter have both tested positive for Human Immuno- deficiency Virus (HIV). Her husband died of full blown AIDS few months ago. The social rejection and bigotry coerced on people living with HIV/AIDS only add to their miseries, which are struggling to come in terms with this life threatening disease.


Social debasement of HIV/AIDS is due to many reasons. Since infection is also sexually transmitted and research have confirmed that unsafe sex is the foremost reason for the spread of infection. Therefore, HIV/AIDS is considered a moral fault and deserve to be punished. It is considered as irresponsible and promiscuous behavior. Also, virus is associated with homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution these are already mortified by the society. Whoever said; “ignorance is bliss” must have meant for some other world. In our world, ignorance is a curse. Our lack of awareness and inaccurate information about how the virus is transmitted (myths like: it can be transmitted by touching), has exaggerated the fear for the virus and the infected person.

Condition of HIV/AIDS infected women is dismal. Women are blamed for carrying the infection, even though they may have got the virus from her husband. Instances have been reported, where husbands abandon their ailing wives and children to find another wife. Due to the fear of social and family desertion, women are hesitant to disclose their HIV status. Also, disclosure may lead to loss of job and reputations. This fear and dithering will make women an easy target of violence and abuse. Ban Ki Moon says: "Stigma remains the single most important barrier to public action. It is a main reason why too many people are afraid to see a doctor to determine whether they have the disease, or to seek treatment if so. It helps make AIDS the silent killer, because people fear the social disgrace of speaking about it, or taking easily available precautions. Stigma is a chief reason why the AIDS epidemic continues to devastate societies around the world”.


The question is: how can we trounce this stigma and discrimination?
We need effective policies and laws, which enables the H IV+ to live and enjoy the rights as any other citizen of India. Safeguard from and prevent social ostracism and discrimination. We need cooperation and action from all the section of society. Participation from media, educational and religious organization will help to increase awareness and acceptability. Last but not the least; we can make a difference, with openness and positive attitude. As mother Teresa said; “if you judge people, you have no time to love them”.