Sunday, September 07, 2008 Gueco: Crisis By Malu T. Gueco
PATIENT: Juan dela Cruz
Diagnosis: HIV-Positive
Reading this doctor's report, Juan trembled and felt the four walls of his home crashing down on him. A million questions smashed his heart into a thousand pieces.
Known as the "gwapito," will his face/looks become disfigured?
After an hour of perspiring worry, he realized how his work as a call center agent drove him to pursue unhealthy habits. Yes, he admitted, his P40,000 - P50,000 monthly paycheck gave him luxury. Speaking Spanish, his boss prized his talents and assigned him to receive calls/complaints from Latinos/Latinas abroad.
However, in contrast, he endured the stress of an erratic schedule. The daily night shift broke his sleeping pattern. Likewise, work pressures drove him to seek out pleasure by engaging in sexual practices with various partners.
Thereafter, Juan placed his head on his hands, as he was bombarded with buzzing questions in his mind. He hastily opened his personal computer to seek answers and this is what unfolded before his eyes.
HIV-Aids
HIV means human immunodeficiency virus. A person can carry the HIV virus for months or years before becoming seriously ill. An example is famed basketball player Michael Jordan who is HIV-Positive. But he does not yet have the onset of infections and complications.
Aids is the set of symptoms/infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system. Aids brings opportunistic infections like tuberculosis, skin lesions, tumor or cancers. A person suffering from HIV-Aids experiences a host of illness due to her/his weakened immunity.
How is it transmitted?
HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream. For example, blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk are conduits. Transmission involves vaginal and anal sex. Other means are blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between a sick mother and baby during childbirth or breastfeeding.
How can it be prevented?
A (Abstinence)
Avoidance of sexual risk by delay of first sexual experience, mutual faithfulness in marriage, correct and consistent use of condoms. Avoid sharing of syringes. In case of blood transfusion, ensure blood bags are sterilized.
B (Be treated)
Access early anti-HIV medicine or AntiRetroViral (ARV). Seek out the help of the medical support system.
C (Counseling)
Cope with your HIV crisis by going to counseling. You may contact the following:
Remedios Aids Foundation
1066 Remedios Street, Malate, Manila
Telephone nos.: 5240924/5244831
Finale
Closing his laptop, Juan quietly pondered on the options available to him.
Yes, he decided to call his doctor's office for an immediate appointment. Furthermore, he opted to avail of counseling to be able to deal with the host of conflicting emotions troubling him.
Closing the night lamp on his desk, he looked out in the dark night. Uttering a silent prayer, he opened his heart to His Creator. With tears in his eyes, Juan whispered this plea:
"Lord, make me a channel of courage, a vessel of complete healing and a face illumined with humble compassion for myself and my bothers and sisters who are undergoing this crisis."
