Stay positive vital in AIDS fight: HIV carrier

Stay positive vital in AIDS fight: HIV carrier
By PATRICK TALU
A PERSON living with HIV for 14 years said collaborative effort and partnership by all stakeholders was the way forward in containing the deadly endemic. Thomas Keleya said this at the Fourth National Symposium for Tingim Laip project in Port Moresby last week.
To the surprise of the participants, Mr Keleya candidly revealed that he was living with the virus for 14 years in which 12 years had been without any anti-HIV drugs but on positive living, care and counselling before the introduction of antiretroviral treatment (ART).
He took the opportunity to commend the work of Anglicare StopAIDS and Tingim Laip HIV response groups in providing the most needed care and counselling to those living with the virus who would have otherwise felt hopeless and doomed to death due to stigma and discrimination.
Mr Keleya also revealed that there were 147 HIV-positive people living in Mt Hagen of which 83 were females.
He said they wanted to “come out of their shells” and join the “warrior” groups but fear of discrimination and stigma was an impediment.
Similar sentiment was shared by fellow sufferer Winifred Lowai from Mt Hagen.
He said HIV was manageable but the important thing was the attitude towards the disease.
“If only we can change our attitude to sexual conduct, it is possible for us to minimise the spread of the diseases,” he added.
Mr Lowai also appealed to all concerned individuals and HIV/AIDS advocates to work in partnership to combat the spread of the virus before PNG was branded as another country plagued by the diesease.Copyright © 2008 Pacific Star Limited - The NATIONAL. All rights reserved.