I HAVE FOUND out that many of our teachers don't know how to deal with the issue of HIV in the schools. For example, I spoke to a young lady who is infected with HIV and she said that when she was in high school, sores and bumps were on her skin. She told them (teachers) that she was infected, and as a result they scorned her and didn't pay much attention to her.
Parents were told about her (as in discuss her at parent-teachers meeting). They sent her home for no reason at all.
I think those people at that particular school are ignorant. I had thought that "teachers" knew better. I am really ashamed of the society I am living in. I understand that her teachers are not perfect but to give love to an infected student or reach out to her, there is nothing is wrong with that.
STOP DISCRIMINATION IN SCHOOLS
You are not going to catch the disease like that and I strongly believe the Government should put a stop to this (discrimination) in schools. They teach about the disease and yet still they don't act mature and knowledgeable. Sometimes I wonder why people are like this. It really scares me. For a student to say that she is at home because she's infected, that's garbage.
In addition, some people (parents) say that they should have a school for students who are infected with HIV. I strongly disagree. Who is going to teach them? I don't think these teachers are going to take up this task, and besides, they are normal, just like us.
I think that (both) students and teachers should be trained (to handle such situations). If a student is infected, they should know how to treat the child. It's just another illness.
Besides, everybody is going to die some day. You must go one day (but) you don't decide how you want to die. God decides that. You don't have any control over death. What are we going to do, quarrel with God? I don't think that will work.
MY HEART HURTS
I wish there were no diseases. I guess everyone would wish that. But my heart hurts for the girl I spoke with, who said, "No one reaches out to me because of my illness. I've to be going out there to find my food, money and etc. I can't deal with people anymore. I went to various companies for them to sponsor me to buy food, clothes and all they do is to run me away and tell me to go and look a life."
When she told me this I couldn't hold back the tears although I didn't want her to see me cry, but this is a burning issue. She got expelled from school because of the infection. She doesn't really live anywhere. She sleeps around - at an aunt's or by grandma -, always going back and forth. "They don't work. I have to find everything," she said. She added that she wished people could understand how someone (can be) destroyed because of one person. My advice (is) please try to understand how people feel, know that they are really hurting and just help them please. God bless you.
- Babysham
(Babysham is a teenager affected by HIV)
