Maong Jamir | Prodigals’ Home
I appreciate the article on ‘blood test report before matrimony’ by Dimapur District Ao Pensioners Union that appeared in Nagaland Post on 18th August 2012. This is a good step taken by senior citizens and speaks volumes about their concern over the issue of HIV and AIDS in the state.
I fully agree with the statement that influx of migrant, risky behaviors of youngsters as major cause for the rapid spread of HIV. I also salute the DDAPU for encouraging the Churches to come forward in responding to this issue.
While appreciating the article, I would like to comment on blood test before matrimony. HIV and AIDS is a social and developmental issue. Just knowing the four routes of transmission is not enough information on HIV and AIDS. We encounter new issues everyday related to this epidemic. One of the issues is ‘mandatory testing’ which is debated in many conferences, seminars and meetings. Some of the questions pertaining to this issue are:
If testing is done before marriage and one of the partners is found positive, what will be the response of the church? Can church ensure that the one found to be positive is not stigmatized? Is Church ready to maintain confidentiality and provide counseling? What about human rights issue? Is the person ready for testing before marriage? What if the partners opt for court marriage? What if the two is deeply in love and decide to unite without holy matrimony? What about their morality and spirituality? Can we judge their pre-marital sex only with acquiring of HIV?
No doubt, young people are more vulnerable to HIV but we can not ignore the fact that even old people are infected with HIV. On 6th November 2011 Nagaland local dailies carried a report that the oldest HIV infected person in the state is 75 years old; the most obvious question that comes to mind is, how did this old man contract the virus? We cannot always conclude that HIV is acquired through sex alone. Even a young boy / girl may acquire HIV through other risky behaviors or through accidental blood contact with friends, brothers, sisters etc. What about Doctors, Nurses and other medical practitioners who are always in contact with HIV infected people? Are they not vulnerable to HIV?
Working in the field of HIV and AIDS, we have met many people who willingly married with their infected partners and are living a happy family life. It was his/her choice. We also came across husbands/ wives who acquired HIV only after their marriage, perhaps husbands/ wives had extra marital affairs. There are other cases such as parents getting the infection while taking care of HIV infected son/ daughters.
Stigma and discrimination is deeply rooted on the issue of HIV and AIDS and this is a potent obstacle to effective intervention of HIV programmes. It plays a major role in the spread of HIV. Many people deny their status and many people refuse to test their status fearing social stigma and discrimination. As long as one remain hidden with one’s status, the spread of HIV is inevitable.
In order to stop the spread of HIV, the first step should be to fight stigma and discrimination and not to fuel it further with our self righteous and judgmental attitude. Stigma and discrimination is mainly due to myth, misconception and wrong Informations about HIV and AIDS. And another reason is due to its association with Drugs and sex. I believe that testing before marriage can be realized only when there is zero stigma and zero discrimination.
In line with DDAPU’s appeal, I also appeal the NBCC, ABAM and all the respected church organizations to take up proactive steps that will minimize/eradicate stigma and discrimination. When the respective organizations take up small steps in this direction the collective action will go a long way in eradicating stigma and discrimination which is the chief obstacle in our effective fight against HIV/AIDS.
