Press Releases

Vietnamese Journalists Learn to Reduce Stigma
in Covering HIV/AIDS

[Thuy Nga is a Vietnamese journalist who has participated in Internews workshops focused on HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in Vietnam.]

When love stays

By Thuy Nga
21st April, 2007

“When my husband was bed-ridden in the final stage of AIDS, I spent all my time looking after him. From morning until night, day after day, I prepared food, fed him, did the washing…and cried. The day he passed away, I had no tears and no emotions left. I was unable to think or say anything. I hardly knew whether I was alive or dead myself.’’

It is hard to reconcile these heartfelt words with the tall, sturdy-looking and ever-smiling Ms. Le Thi Thu Huong, 24, a member of the Hoa Xuong Rong (Cactus) PLHIV Club in Halong city.

Huong was able to move on from her old heartbreak, which she described as a “drowning ice-block of HIV/AIDS,” when she joined the group which provides support and care to HIV-positive  people in the community. She is now receiving medical care and is proud to have a new boyfriend, also HIV-positive.  

With an easy smile, she says that people living with HIV and AIDS are a lot healthier, happier, and more able to rejoin the community when they receive love and care from others, including relatives.  

She gives an example of another woman in the group. “Ms. Phuong was once so downhearted and was thinking of death. She was ‘’reborn’’ not just because of medical treatment but from the warmth and help she got from her current husband.’’  

Ms. Phuong’s husband, Mr Thanh, took great care of her, preparing nourishing food and listening to her feelings when she was depressed. His love gave Ms. Phuong the strength to carry on with daily life and now they work together to give care and support to others who are HIV-positive.

Other couples too are working for a brighter future. Ms Nguyen Thi Nga and her construction worker husband take care of an elderly mother and educate two healthy children. Ms P, who lost her husband to AIDS, takes care of her daughter, 13, who is studying at the Quang Ninh School of Arts.

Though members of the group are all now quite content with their current lives, they worry about the widespread stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV.

Stigma and discrimination helps the spread of HIV and makes it very difficult for PLHIV to survive and make a living, they say.

Club member Ms M, who once sold 40kg of vegetable pickles per day, lost her business and had to move to a new location after her status became known, they point out.

Le Thi Thu Huong told of a man whose secret is jeopardising his life. "Although he is very rich, he won’t reveal his status to anyone, buys medicines privately, and treats himself. But not being part of a proper treatment programme is so bad for him. He is getting sicker.’’

Fear of discrimination means many people who know they are HIV-positive are reluctant to visit counseling and treatment centers, helping facilitate the spread of the disease.

Huong has a fervent wish. "My hope is that treatment for HIV will be available and improved. I hope too that the community will just treat us like other people with an illness, and not discard us.’’

At 11.30 a.m the women of the club are preparing to go home. Huong’s face lights up with happiness when her sweetheart arrives to pick her up.

21st April, 2007