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Due to the widespread bias toward AIDS in society, caring for people infected with HIV has become an important conception in the prevention of AIDS. In these in-depth interviews in this area, the author heard some differing voices.
“Excessive care and concern marginalizes this group even more; only acceptance, equality and respect can truly dispel the bias within society. If we include all infected persons and treat them equally, without discrimination, each taking up his or her own share of responsibility, then this disease should not be so terrible.” Australia’s senior expert Dr. Gao Yuan caused this reporter to reconsider. How do those infected view life? What kind of “love and concern” do they need? Coexisting within a social environment, how should we treat those with HIV? With these questions, today this reporter interviewed two infected persons and two experts. Let us follow in the reporter’s footsteps, enter their lives and listen attentively to the words spoken from the heart.
Infected Person #1: Approach Life with Kindness, Enjoy Each Day.
Wang Yang was surprised that the media found him so quickly, because in March of last year, since testing positive for HIV, he has been very careful, and even his close friends do not know the result. Before agreeing to be interviewed, he asked himself, “Do I really want to reveal my true feelings? If I speak, to what extent?” Once the subject was opened up, however, all his apprehensions disappeared. Wang Yang believes that infected persons especially should enhance people’s awareness, strengthen the public’s knowledge, regard themselves as members of society, take up their own responsibilities: only then can societal discrimination truly be reduced.
In March of last year, after I learned that I was infected with HIV, in my heart I felt wounded, I felt that at heart, I am good-natured, never having done anything to harm another person, in fact having done many things to contribute to public welfare. I have to face this outcome. It was very painful. But this period of time was fairly short.
I was once in a serious car accident, and, facing death, I thought how in life there are still many things I want to do that I han’t done, and it was a hard time. After I recovered, I felt I could not go on living the way I had before, so I resigned from my job and stayed with my parents for over a year. Afterwards I went to Yunnan, wanting to do some things that I always wanted to do and which were meaningful. In August of last year, I arrived at an organization and became a volunteer, and in the process of helping others, I came to enjoy the happiness that the work brought me.
Facing death again, I began anew to think about the question of life. This time I did not feel afraid, because I still had time. I can still plan the last portion of my life well and live out my plan. At the same time I can receive treatment to extend my life. The length of life is not important: what is important is living each day well.
As a member of society, each person has a duty to himself. I understand that my responsibility toward my own life is also my responsibility to society. AIDS is a communicable disease, so most important is that I do not transmit it. At the same time I must have a positive attitude. All things have a process of being accepted. When our thought process is normal, when we have a good environment, we will not be of a mind to retaliate against others or against society. If we have a healthy circle of people who can provide this kind of safe environment, then they themselves will be safe. Harmony is something that must be created and sustained by each person.
I did work in the community for over a year and now I am still a volunteer, doing some training in the area of treatment. Through this process I have found that the public’s awareness in the field of AIDS prevention has become more and more apparent and this has given me much to think about. In particular, after I became infected, I consciously sought out knowledge and at the same time my desire to help others stronger than ever before. In the course of doing this program, I found that some infected persons very much wanted to be taken care of, because they had placed themselves in a special position, waiting for someone else to come and take care of them. I do not think this is right. I myself do not need special care...
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This article was first published in China Women’s Newspaper, January 15th 2007, and posted on Oxfam Hong Kong website. |
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| Issue 7.2 |
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Priceless Friendship
—Matteo Ricci’s Legacy
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