Let's talk about that other virus
Read in Indonesian
On 7 November 1991, NBA superstar Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers went on a podium in the Forum Club and dropped a bombshell of a news: “Because of the HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers. Today.”
Johnson, then 32, was one of the most famous athletes in the world and, at the time, the face of basketball. On that fateful November day, he also became the new face of HIV. HIV/AIDS was largely thought of as a “gay disease” or only mostly affecting people who did drugs. Yet, here was a young, fit and heterosexual husband and father in his prime announcing to the world that he was HIV positive; “I think sometimes we think only gay people can get it… I am saying that it can happen to anybody—even me,” he said.
The impact of his announcement was unprecedented. In the month following his announcement, HIV testing rose by nearly 60% in New York City. Sadness, shock and admiration came his way as fans learned of the news. “The day after he told the world,” the Associated Press reported, “people talked and cried and thought about little else.” Seeing such a beloved public figure reveal his HIV infection led people to have a much more empathetic view towards people living with HIV/AIDS.
Of course, this particular story has a happy ending. Johnson was able to manage the virus with the treatments available before the 1996 release of a potent triple-combination therapy that has prolonged the lives of many with HIV. These days, he is thriving as a business owner and HIV/AIDS advocate and staying healthy with the right HIV treatment.
Stories such as this show how much HIV/AIDS treatments have progressed since then, with HIV currently being categorised as a manageable chronic disease by the World Health Organization. It is no longer the death sentence we learned about in the 1980s and 1990s. It means HIV no longer makes the news as much, which also means people are not adequately educated about HIV/AIDS in 2021. It leads to two things: complacency and stigma.
The thing is, COVID-19 is serious and all, but we need to talk about that other virus again.
Amahl S. Azwar, an HIV-positive author based in Bali, said this when asked about the most urgent HIV/AIDS problem in Indonesia today: “Stigma, stigma and stigma.” “Many members of our society still think of HIV as a ‘curse’, so no matter how much we campaign about the HIV prevention programme, it won't matter because they always see it from the perspective of their beliefs (read: religion),” Amahl explained.
We suppose it is time that we get introduced to HIV/AIDS again. The Finery Report spoke to obstetrician-gynecologist Dinda Derdameisya about HIV/AIDS to understand them better. There are three ways one can contract HIV: direct contact with the blood or certain bodily fluids (semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid and breast milk) of a person living with HIV/AIDS through our mucous membrane, vertical transmission from an HIV-positive mother to her child through breastfeeding or birthing process and through bodily fluid due to vaginal, anal and oral intercourse. Therefore, a handshake, a hug, or sharing utensils with an HIV-positive person does not put us in danger of contracting HIV.
In Indonesia, the rate of HIV infectionsdecreased by 16.5% between 2019 and 2020. However, AIDS cases rose by 22.78% to 8,639 cases from 7,036 cases between 2019 and 2020. Most of these cases fall under the productive age bracket, with the biggest chunk are aged between 20 and 39 years a.k.a. millennials and Generation Z.
Younger millennials and Generation Z were either not born yet at the time or were too young to remember the deaths of Freddie Mercury and Arthur Ashe, or Magic Johnson’s HIV announcement. They did not live through the fears of the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and early 1990s. In contrast to Johnson’s announcement, when public figures such Charlie Sheen and Jonathan Van Ness came out as HIV-positive in recent years, the public reception was much less somber. The narrative was one of courage and positive outlook. Courage, because there are still discrimination and misconceptions to fight.
First misconception is that HIV/AIDS is gone. It is not; HIV is only a manageable chronic condition when an infected person gets the appropriate treatment, which are the Antiretroviral (ARV) medicines that work by stopping the virus replicating in the body. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) may reduce HIV to such small quantities that it can no longer be detected by standard blood tests. People living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot pass HIV on through sex.
Thankfully, treatment accessibility has gotten much better over the years. “For me, it is very accessible. I’m quite lucky because I live in Bali and I’m close with the LGBTQIA+ community so we can keep each other informed. I take my medication every month from Bali Peduli. No hassle at all,” Amahl shared.
Second misconception is that HIV/AIDS only affects certain marginal groups of societies, such as the LGBT community, drug abusers or people with multiple sexual partners. In reality, one of the reasons HIV/AIDS is still prevalent in Indonesia is the infection rate among housewives who contracted HIV from their husbands.
A 2021 study by Fauk, Ward, Hawke and Mwanri indicates that HIV stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) still occurred within families, communities and even healthcare settings. These were reflected in negative labelling, separation of personal belongings, avoidance, denial of treatment and rejection of PLWHA by healthcare providers, family and community members. Some healthcare providers reported that they had personally stigmatised and discriminated against PLWHA. A lack of knowledge about HIV, fear of contracting HIV, personal values, religious thoughts and socio-cultural values and norms were reported as drivers or facilitators behind this HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
For example, here is a quote by a healthcare worker cited in the study: “I admit that initially I discriminated against patients who were husbands and married who got HIV through sex with prostitutes or injecting drugs. One of the reasons was that they violated religious teachings and caused the burden not only on themselves, but also on their wives. The sins and mistakes they have committed negatively affect their innocent wives and children,” (HCP3, female nurse, Yogyakarta).
Clearly, more understanding and compassion are needed. The government and HIV/AIDS advocates will continue to do their parts, but the media and the creative industry – including us – has an important role to play, too.
How the media and creative industry can help is by presenting a relatable point for the mass audience. For example, filmmaker Lola Amaria launched a movie titled “Calon Pengantin” in 2020. The movie touched on the topic of HIV/AIDS by presenting the story of a young heterosexual couple who encountered the unexpected in the middle of their wedding preparation. “The choice of taking on the topic of young love is meant to make the movie easier to digest, as love stories and weddings are always fascinating to our audience,” Lola stated.
Most of all, by covering HIV/AIDS issues, the press can contribute in garnering public and government attention. Once the press makes an issue viral, the government will surely take notice and may push for policies that will support the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Indonesia still has a long way to go when it comes to creating a safe and favourable nation for PLWHA and their families. However, progress has been made and Amahl did not hesitate to say, “There are some changes! We do need to celebrate this. I see more and more people understand that it’s okay to hang out with PLWHA. Of course, in general, there’s still some work to do – this is our homework, together.”
It is indeed our homework. Now let’s go and talk about that other virus again.
