LIFESTYLE | HIV Case of a 23-Year Old Guy

HIV Case of a 23-Year Old Guy

I just couldn't get this out of mind, and it has been bothering me since I read about that article last night. The headline starts- "I'm an HIV positive person" which details the plight of a 23-year old Filipino guy who was begging for some financial support due to lack of resources to buy necessary medicine. To make matters worse, the guy has not disclosed his condition to his parents saying, and I quote "I am the bread winner in the family, and if my father learns about my situation, he would ask me to go back home; and I cannot do that since I am the only one sending them money and supporting my other siblings."

He posted photos of his left leg now covered with shingles i.e. small red bumps. And he has complained about how he couldn't sleep at night due to excruciating headache. 

For god's sake- he is 23. And now his life has been snatched from him.

I don't want to play the blaming game here, but what is going on in the Philippines. Statistics now show that 62% of all HIV infected people in the country are from the 15 to 24 age bracket. 

In a short ad from HIVepicenter Philippines, one could not help but tear up after hearing of stories of people who have contracted the disease.

When I was 15, I was busy with school and had no idea about sex and HIV. During our time back in the 90s, children were not allowed to talk about sex. It is taboo and older folks frown upon the idea of discussing it with children. We had no idea about the dark reality of sexual intercourse and anything related to it.

But now, 23-year olds are getting infected. Only just beginning to live life, and yet it reeks of the end. I say it is the end of the line, because poor people who contract the virus often do not have means to get cured. This is a sad fact of life in the Philippines.

And despite my intentions to send financial help to the 23-year old, at the back of my mind is an unspoken thought- how long will he last?

As such, I get paranoid with HIV that I make it a point to get tested at least once a year. The virus is opportunistic. It doesn't show signs or symptoms until late stage. Only through early detection can the virus be contained (but not cured). Once the virus is inside the body, it is there forever; and will remain dormant.

At this point, all we can do is learn from the 23-year old's mistake and be more responsible with our sexual activities.