Siti dedicates herself to HIV patients<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
A patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
\nlay helplessly in a hospital room in Jayapura, Papua, screaming
\nin pain every night. She was isolated from non-HIV positive
\npatients, and medical personnel used gloves to examine her frail
\nbody in the morning and afternoons.<\/p>\n
Siti Nurdjaja Soltief, 34, can recall clearly the experience
\nand empathize with the patient, who had been a model student when
\nshe studied with Siti at university in Jayapura six years ago.<\/p>\n
Her suffering and the discrimination she received prompted
\nSiti to comfort her after nursing duties.<\/p>\n
\"I treated her like the other patients -- without gloves --
\nand I talked to her because nobody had approached her like a
\nfriend. She was abandoned due to the social stigmatization that
\nfollows HIV infection,\" the nurse told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Devoting the rest of her time to accompanying her friend, Siti
\nboosted her morale by telling her to accept her state with
\nresignation and get closer to God.<\/p>\n
\"I told her there was no reason to shout in pain as it would
\nnot relieve her. She just needed to calm down and remember God.\"<\/p>\n
After six months, the patient died and Siti took care of her
\nfuneral. The experience aroused her curiosity about HIV, which
\ncauses the onset of AIDS.<\/p>\n
Siti says HIV patients should be helped by engaging them in
\npositive activities instead of discriminating against them.<\/p>\n
Her increasing interest in HIV\/AIDS irritated her boyfriend,
\nRobert Sihombing. \"Why are you so keen on caring for such
\npatients? You'll get infected yourself,\" said Siti, quoting
\nRobert.<\/p>\n
She then explained the ailment to Robert, who had known Siti
\nfor 11 years. Now they manage the Jayapura Support Group for
\npeople living with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
Since becoming familiar with HIV six years ago, Siti and the
\ngroup have looked after at least 100 patients who have contracted
\nthe illness in Jayapura, 60 of whom have died, with 40 others
\ncurrently receiving counseling. \"Four, with no family in
\nJayapura, stay with me while helping counsel their fellows,\" Siti
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She is assisted by seven volunteers -- all paramedics that
\nvisit the HIV positive people daily. \"After finishing my hospital
\nchores, I see HIV patients with the volunteers every day; my
\nhobby has shifted from swimming or angling to counseling HIV
\npatients\" she said laughing.<\/p>\n
The counseling, Siti said was needed because the disease was
\nas yet incurable and those affected by HIV were often isolated
\nbefore their eventual death, leading to despair and suicidal
\ntendencies.<\/p>\n
\"We advise them that though the virus cannot yet be medically
\neradicated, through better knowledge of their illness they still
\nhave a chance to improve the quality of their life, such as by
\ngiving up bad habits, including a promiscuous lifestyle,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Siti's devotion to the care of people living with HIV\/AIDS has
\ninvited both scorn and acclaim. Her initial involvement triggered
\nthe rumor that she was an HIV sufferer herself, which became
\nwidespread as her enthusiasm heightened and her voluntary work
\nincreased.<\/p>\n
The rumor even made her boyfriend suspicious, and she felt
\ncompelled to undergo an HIV\/AIDS test. \"As the blood test result
\nwas negative, the rumor soon faded away and Robert believed I was
\nall right,\" she said. Despite the contempt, Siti gained fame
\namong volunteers, first in Papua, then nationwide and in other
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
She was invited to two world meetings to describe HIV\/AIDS
\ncases and their handling in Papua; the 14th International AIDS
\nCongress in Chiang Mai in 2001 and the 15th in Bangkok, Thailand,
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
Praise has also come from colleagues and social institutions.
\nIn 2002, Siti, another nurse from Jakarta's Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nHospital, and three journalists, were given Sido Muncul Awards
\nfor their services to humanity.<\/p>\n
Siti was moved and proud. \"I appreciated the award, though my
\ndevotion to people living with HIV-AIDS owes more to humanitarian
\nmotives than the need for recognition or awards,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody knows Siti; the term 'HIV\/AIDS' is often associated
\nwith her,\" Vanwi, a Papuan journalist, said.<\/p>\n
Posters with the images of Siti, artist and activist Nurul
\nArifin, Papuan singer Edo Kondologit and Papua Deputy Governor
\nConstant Karma can be found on main roads in Jayapura and other
\nPapuan cities as part of the campaign against HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
After finishing her high school studies in Jayapura in 1988,
\nSiti took a three-year nursing program at Cenderawasih University
\nin Jayapura.<\/p>\n
She now lives with her parents in the house that also serves
\nas the Jayapura Support Group counseling center.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/siti-dedicates-herself-to-hiv-patients-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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