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Jayapura, 13/3 (Jubi) – John Matius, an HIV/AIDS patient, urge people like him to be more active in society despite discrimination because they also have a future like the others.
He told to tabloidjubi.com on Thursday (13/3) that people with HIV/AIDS were still facing discimination both from their families and neighbors. Therefore being a PLWHA requires courage to get through discrimination.
“To my PLWHA fellows, please keep fighting and never feel down,” he said.
He further said that he wants to help people who are infected with HIV-AIDS in Papua and would keep reminding them to take antiretroviral drugs. He suggested to those who has been not infected to protect themselves against the HIV-AIDS.
The deputy chairman of the National AIDS Commission Jayapura, Esterlina Ayomi, last week said that the discrimination against the PLWHA included a lack of recognition from the families and violations against their rights. She further said it occurred because people are scared. People still have negative and wrong ideas about PLWHA who they thought their lives were doomed.
“It’s not true. If they undergo medical treatment, they will survive and live like uninfected people, they can be productive. Don’t be afraid, the transmission of HIV/AIDS is difficult. Most of cases in Papua were through sexual transmissions.” Esterlina said. (Jubi/Musa/rom)
