HIV targets everyone: NGO activist<\/p>\n
ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Despite having contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),
\nthere is no expression of fear on Sigit Sumargo's face. \"All that
\nI'm experiencing now is a consequence of my past deeds,\" said the
\n29-year-old Sigit (not his real name).<\/p>\n
His agony began in 1994 when he became drug dependent. Since
\nthen, his life has been on a downward slide. His dependency on
\nputaw (low-grade heroin) led him to criminal acts. He stole
\nthings from his house almost every day and sold them to the flea
\nmarket -- jewelry, household utensils, and even the flag pole,
\nwhich he sold for Rp 20,000 (US$2.00).<\/p>\n
The only thing on his mind, he recollects, was how to get the
\nmoney to buy the illicit substance. \"What else could I sell, or
\nwho else could I cheat?\" he recalled.<\/p>\n
The habit only came to an end in 2002 after he became fed up
\nof being dependent on drugs. \"I was tired of telling lies and
\nstealing,\" said Sigit, who was very active in student politics in
\nthe middle of the 1990s. He even joined a left-wing political
\nparty and was involved in activities to fight the Soeharto
\nregime.<\/p>\n
He recalled the decision to stop taking drugs was the hardest
\nhe had ever faced. He felt like every bone in his body was being
\npoked with needles, the joints aching like they were trampled on
\nby horses and various other pains in his body for more than a
\nweek.<\/p>\n
But, then they were gone, and he felt the pleasure of being
\nfree from drugs. \"After being free from drugs, I felt fresh
\nwaking up in the morning,\" said Sigit, a former basket ball
\nplayer.<\/p>\n
But, the suffering had not ended. Last year, he caught an
\nillness that made his breathing difficult and it did not improve.
\nHe went to the hospital and the hospital found white specks on
\nhis lungs. The doctor suggested Sigit undergo a full medical
\ncheckup, including a HIV test.<\/p>\n
The test results showed that he was HIV positive. Sigit
\nrecalls it was 2004 just a few days before Idul Fitri. \"Frankly
\nspeaking, I was not surprised at all by the test results because
\nI had realized it was a possibility and I accepted it,\" said the
\nson of one of the caretakers of an Islamic boarding school in
\nEast Java.<\/p>\n
He contracted HIV due to sharing needles among fellow addicts.<\/p>\n
It was a terrible blow to his family. Provided with bottled
\nwater, bread and a cell phone, Sigit was left alone at the
\nInfectious Diseases Intermediate facility, a clinic for HIV\/AIDS
\npatients at Dr. Soetomo hospital. In the beginning, the harsh
\nresponse of his family enraged him. Initially he put all the
\nblame on the family, but later he accepted their stance. Now, he
\naccepts responsibility for his predicament.<\/p>\n
His experience has led him to the awareness that he can do
\nsomething for the community. In solidarity with people living
\nwith HIV\/AIDS, Sigit has decided to stand up and become an active
\nadvocate of HIV\/AIDS prevention.<\/p>\n
Sigit is one of the 200 or so residents of Surabaya who have
\nHIV. The actual number could be much higher and it should serve
\nas a wake-up call as World AIDS Day is observed on Dec. 1. Based
\non data from the Surabaya Health Office in 2004, 217 people have
\ncontracted HIV, while 106 of them have Acquired Immunodeficiency
\nSyndrome (AIDS). Data from 2003 shows that 99 people had
\ncontracted HIV, 49 of whom had AIDS.<\/p>\n
Executive director of Hotline Surya, an NGO working with
\npeople with HIV, Esti Susanti, said that, learning from Sigit's
\ncase, it was clear that anyone could contract HIV\/AIDS, from sex
\nworkers to even children from religious backgrounds. \"Let there
\nbe no negative impression of people living with HIV\/AIDS. Anyone
\ncan contract the virus,\" she told the Post.<\/p>\n
She further said that besides support from the community,
\npeople living with HIV\/AIDS could also be helped through
\nantiretroviral therapy. With continued treatment the drugs can
\nhelp improve immunity and increase the quality of life, allowing
\nthe person with HIV\/AIDS to live longer.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hiv-targets-everyone-ngo-activist-1447893297",
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