Not many people are aware that discriminatory behavior against people with HIV / AIDS is very bad for the life of people living with HIV. Lack of knowledge on how HIV / AIDS is transmitted, makes the general public think it is dangerous living with people with HIV. Coupled with inadequate education on HIV / AIDS for the community, and lack of awareness or motivation to find out for themselves pertinent information. What is more alarming is discriminatory attitudes that are not only encountered by PLWHA but also become a burden for families who are not infected with HIV.
A grandmother who has lost her child and her mate because of HIV / AIDS, must stay together and nurture her three grandchildren. The first and third grandchilds were positively infected with HIV / AIDS, while the second grandchild was declared negative. Not infrequently his grandchildren received discriminatory acts from the surrounding environment and school.
His first grandson had been treated badly enough to have to change schools, but at that time Vina Smart Era Foundation was not yet officially incorporated, so no action could be taken. Not long after the incident, the second grandson of the negative status also get rejection from the school where he signed up, we come to school to do advocacy, meet with some teachers and even the headmaster.
We explain the status of the child, the explanation that even if there are children infected with HIV / AIDS (ADHA) wanting to go to school should not be a problem, because it makes no difference to ADHA with children in general.
After finding out, the school has no problem with, it's just that there is one teacher who gives an incorrect statement about HIV / AIDS, so after the advocacy is complete, the child can continue his study in that school.
The recent incident happened to the third grandchild who was in the 5th grade of elementary school. My grandmother called us and told me that her grandchild did not want to go to school because some of her friends mocked her and disturbed her using her HIV / AIDS status.
According to the grandmother's story there was a teacher at the school who told the children about the virus in her grandchild's body, did not want the problem to go on and more people knew, we came to school and met principals and other teachers.
After a bit of conversation then it is known that it is not the school that tells the status of the child, but the neighbors of the child's friends who eventually made a mockery. We do counseling to teachers and students from the child's class, and until now the child is willing to go back to school and still be in the same school.
Sometimes just one or two people are drawing their own conclusions about HIV / AIDS and affecting those around them. Let us both help eliminate discrimination against PLWHA and ADHA, because they themselves do not want to be infected, and do not be afraid of contracting, because it is easier for flu and hepatitis in transmitting compared to HIV / AIDS. Stay away from the virus, not the person.
A grandmother has three grandchildren who have no father and mother who died because of HIV / AIDS. The first grandson of hiv + and the 2nd negative, the 3rd granddaughter positive hiv. The first grandson experienced discrimination in school until he had to change school, according to grandma's story because at that time VSE was not yet established.
Even the second grandson despite the negative gets the same treatment even from the teacher so that VSE advocates until the child can continue the school until now. The third grandchild received equal treatment from his classmate. After the advocacy is done the child will be able to go back to school.