MALACCA: A secondary school teacher strives to reach out to those who are HIV positive despite the stigma attached to the community.
Relating her story, Hanani Rahayu Abdul Jalil, 32, said she started reaching out the marginalised group in 2012, after reading the life story of an HIV positive patient in a blog titled, Aku HIV Positif (I’m HIV Positive)
Hanani said she was saddened by the fact that many HIV positive patients had their lives destroyed even before the disease could do anything due to the stigma from the society.
That was when her perspective towards the group changed and decided to devote her time to doing something for HIV patients.
“I was also curious whether HIV patients can enjoy a healthy life by undergoing consistent medical treatment and was determined to find out what sort of medications were used to help HIV patients.
“So I started by becoming a volunteer in programmes organised by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that dealt with HIV patients. The opportunity enabled me to see how HIV patients lived,” she said.
Hanani said that she was impressed that many HIV patients lived a happy life, with several of them even getting married and having children, minus the disease.
On the stigma against HIV patients, Hanani said society should change its negative perception on the group.
“ Keep an open mind when dealing with HIV patients. Try to get to know people suffering from the disease as well,” she said.
Hanani’s work with HIV patients also has a special significance to her life as that was how she met another volunteer who hails from Johor.
The volunteer, Omar Manan, 46, subsequently became her husband in February this year.
On her future plans, Hanani said: “My husband and I hope to open a shelter for children suffering from HIV.”