Overcoming Invisible Barriers: The Power of Family and Community in the Journey with People Living with HIV

In recent years, with the remarkable progress of world medicine in general and Vietnam in particular, HIV/AIDS is no longer a "death sentence" as previously thought.

In recent years, with the remarkable progress of medicine in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular, HIV/AIDS is no longer a "death sentence" as previously thought. Thanks to the advent and popularization of antiretroviral drugs (ARV), people infected with HIV can live healthy lives, work normally and have the same life expectancy as people who are not infected. However, the biggest barrier preventing us from reaching the goal of ending this epidemic is not the virus, but the severe psychological and social consequences. In reality, people infected with HIV often face a "double shock": both worrying about the disease and fearing discrimination and alienation from the community. Many people, because of their inferiority complex, isolate themselves, refuse treatment or abandon the regimen, leading to unfortunate consequences. In that context, medicine is only a necessary condition, while "spiritual medicine" from family and society is a sufficient condition. The companionship and understanding of relatives and the community play a key role in determining the success or failure of the patient's treatment and reintegration process.

The family is the strongest spiritual "fortress", a safe haven from the storms of life for people infected with HIV. When holding a positive result in hand, the patient often falls into a state of panic, denial of reality and despair. At this time, the tolerance and unconditional love of parents, spouses or siblings will be the first psychological therapy to help them overcome the initial shock. Not only stopping at encouraging the patient to live more optimistically, the family also plays an essential role in monitoring and supporting treatment compliance. Reminding to take ARV drugs on time and accompanying them during follow-up visits will help ensure the effectiveness of the regimen. In addition, the family is also the silent guardian of rights, helping relatives keep their private lives confidential to avoid discrimination, while proactively equipping them with knowledge to prevent infection and protect the health of the whole family.

If the family is a peaceful support, society is a large environment for people with HIV to affirm their own value. The responsibility of society is not only to provide medical support but also to create a fair and humane living environment. The most important task is to eliminate stigma through educational communication campaigns, helping the community understand the transmission mechanism to change attitudes from avoidance to sharing. A civilized society is where people with HIV are guaranteed equal opportunities in education and work like other citizens. When they have stable jobs, they are not only financially independent but also feel useful. At the same time, the health and legal systems need to continue to provide safety nets such as free ARV drugs, health insurance and legal advice to protect the legitimate rights of patients.

Close coordination between family and society is the golden key to the success of HIV/AIDS prevention. These two factors are inseparable: family brings love to nurture the soul, and society opens the door of opportunity for development. When both work together, patients will have greater motivation to comply with treatment, maintain stable health and contribute positively to the community. This resonance helps people infected with HIV achieve a viral load below the detection threshold, towards the message K=K (Undetectable = Untransmittable), thereby protecting the safety of the whole community.

The fight against HIV/AIDS is not a single individual's battle, but a shared responsibility of the whole society. Family provides warm protection, society creates conditions for equal integration. In Ca Mau , let's join hands to build a civilized community, where there is no discrimination, only sharing and caring. Understanding and proper support from family and society will give strength to people with HIV to live happily, live healthily, together towards the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Let's open our arms, because people with HIV only carry the virus, they are still people who need to be loved and respected.

Source: https://soyte.camau.gov.vn/bai-khoa-hoc-chinh-tri-va-xa-hoi/vuot-qua-rao-can-vo-hinh-suc-manh-cua-gia-dinh-va-cong-dong-trong-hanh-trinh-cung-nguoi-nhiem-hi-291839