Posts Tagged → #HIV

News: Groom Discovered To Be HIV-Positive, Wedding in India Called Off

Drama unfolded at a village in India after a bride and her family called off a wedding hours before the occasion when they found out that the groom hid the fact that he was HIV positive. 

Friends and relatives of the groom had announced the wedding to the villagers by erecting banners. An individual on seeing the announcement and who knew the groom’s HIV status called the district revenue officer and collector informing them that the groom was HIV positive.

The collector reported that the caller informed him of the groom’s HIV status a day before the wedding. He then contacted the director of medical services to authenticate the information instructing the revenue officials to find the bride’s family in order to inform them of what was going on.

Groom was on HIV Treatment for more Than 2 Years

After validation of the records by the officials and the Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre in the Government hospital, it was found that the groom had been under HIV treatment since mid-2014. The groom’s medical records were collected and the officials contacted him explaining the issue. He agreed to meet up with them in an hour only for him not to show up.

Meanwhile, the officials had been able to trace the bride’s sister’s contact and gave her the news. She, however, did not believe them since the groom had already warned the family that his rival party workers would spread lies about him. The news was therefore dismissed as one of those lies. The officials had no choice but to rush to the venue and give the news in person while presenting the groom’s hospital records to substantiate what they were saying.

A medical officer accompanied by other individuals broke the news to the bride and her family. The bride called off the wedding with her family thanking the officials for saving their girl. The officials also expressed happiness in being able to collect the medical records as well as trace the bride’s family all in 7 hours.

Bride Gets Married Immediately to Another Man

However, the girl’s family was scared for their lives and that of their girl and so sought the protection of the police as they returned home. Interestingly, it was reported that the girl got married on the same day to a man that she was believed to be related to and in their native village.

This story brings to light a few issues that people living with HIV face.

Firstly, could it be that the stigmatization and prejudice facing people living with HIV forced the man to lie about his HIV status? Second, is there a possibility that people living with HIV can find spouses and lead a normal marriage life?

Thirdly, how important is HIV testing for partners even as people continue to date and get married? Fourthly but finally, how effective are the messages sent about living with HIV and the treatments available?

We feel that this story points out to the importance of HIV testing between partners before marriage. After knowing each other’s status, acceptance comes in. HIV is not the end of life – with tools like HIV PEP to prevent infection in the case of suspected exposure as well as PrEP for someone going to knowingly engage in high-risk sexual activities. But ignorance and dishonesty can cost you not only yours but also your partner’s life – go for STD testing at Shim Clinic soon 

HIV Help

It is an unfortunate fact that many people all over the world have been diagnosed with HIV. Help can be found for those who have HIV in Singapore. Patients that are looking for educational material, testing and treatment can find it at a reputable clinic that is staffed with caring doctors and nurses. A clinic that understands the virus and has treated many patients will have the knowledge to care for everyone who walks in the door. There is no appointment necessary to get tested for HIV. Simply walk in and ask to get the test done.

HIV in Singapore is a dreadful disease that has no known cure. However, there are treatment options available. Doctors can educate their patients on the things that they would need to know about the virus. They will talk to those that have been diagnosed with this disease and discuss their available options. They will also be happy to talk about prevention with patients who are not HIV positive and looking to remain that way. This is a very important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Anyone who needs help can get it right away just by walking into the clinic and asking to discuss their options.

Men’s sexual health is very important to both themselves and their partner. No one should be embarrassed, or go without help when there are qualified medical staff ready to offer treatment and education. Licensed doctors can help men, who walk in to get tested, to find out whether they are HIV positive or not. They can be offered education on preventing HIV as well as other diseases. They can ask for treatment options that may help with the symptoms of many different sexually transmitted diseases. For those men that have negative test results and are free from disease, it is important to be diligent about prevention in the future.

Educating yourself and your partner is the first step to preventing HIV in Singapore. Knowing how to stop the virus from getting to you could change your life. However, if HIV is already changing your life, you can get help. Doctors are available with treatment options for this terrible virus. Patients who have been diagnosed with HIV do not have to face it alone. Experienced medical staff is willing to offer help, encouragement, and hope.

News: Hugs, HIV Tests and Condoms part of Olympics Campaign

The just concluded Olympics and Paralympics held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil were not just about sporting activities. The Olympics provided an opportunity for a campaign dubbed #EuAbraco or #iEmbrace inspired by values such as diversity, friendship and togetherness.

The campaign was a massive public health initiative of UNFPA, Brazil’s Ministry of Health, the European Union and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The initiative concentrated on sharing information on sexual and reproductive health, human rights, tolerance and togetherness as well as giving condoms to the Olympics participants, spectators and fans.

The #iEmbrace campaign started giving out leaflets on gender-based violence, racism, human rights and preventing sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and Zika on the 4th of August 2016. More than half a million male and female condoms were also distributed and this continued till the end of the activities with the Paralympic games ending on 18th September.

The campaign also used social media to reach out to people by launching the “hugmeter” which allowed participants to post photos of them hugging other people.

Getting the Message to those Affected

Poverty, discrimination and diseases such as HIV and Zika are all challenges that face the marginalized communities in Brazil. For instance, about 4 million women in Brazil are believed to need contraceptives. #EuAbraco aimed to take advantage of the Olympic’s spirit to reach their message to these populations.

The campaign targeted large crowds of people such as the live sites where mammoth crowds were drawn by large screens showing the Olympic events. An adapted bus offered by the municipal administration offered condoms, HIV testing and information on sexual and reproductive health information to all those who came across it. Moreover, condom dispensers were installed at the Olympic Village by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Brazilian Olympic Committee. Olympics participants were not left behind as it is reported that condoms were made available to them.

Taking on Diversity

The hugmeter, inspired by the 6th principle of the Olympic Charter; the principle of non-discrimination, helped to create awareness of the activities done under the campaign. The hugmeter took into consideration the total wingspan of everyone who was part of the hug and putting the numbers together to a symbolic collective hug target.

Values of equality, non-discrimination and respect, important in the promotion of human rights, were shared in an easy but fun way with the #iEmbrace campaign. The campaign also shed some light on important issues facing people all over the world that they do not have adequate information on.

These issues include sexual and reproductive health, racism as well as HIV and Zika transmission. Through the campaign, messages on how the two viruses are transmitted were shared. Additionally, the campaign sent out messages on the prevention of HIV and the new Zika virus which is also spread by unsafe sex with infected persons. After all, knowledge is power.

The campaign encouraged fighting stigma and bias towards people living with HIV through sharing the message of friendship, diversity and unity and should be replicated around the world.

Prevention Is Key

Prevention is always key to preventing the spread of STDs like HIV and Gonorrhea, which in recent years has mutated into a superbug that is hard to cure. Practice safe sex methods like using condoms, being faithful to a single sexual partner or even abstinence. If one lives an active sexual lifestyle, then frequent

If one lives an active sexual lifestyle, then frequent STD testing should be done in order to diagnose any potential infections early so that treatment can start as soon as possible. Sometimes, accidental exposure to the HIV virus happens, especially to health workers, this is where knowledge of potential life-saving options become critical – HIV PEP is such a treatment option where if treatment starts within the first 72 hours of exposure, chances of HIV infection becomes very low.

Contact Shim Clinic as soon as possible where if you have any questions or if you need treatment or testing straight away.