Kill stigma, save lives

Commentary by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig

Monday marked the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.
   People around the globe gathered for ceremonies, memorials and educational events to bring attention to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS — the final stage of HIV infection. In Oakland, more than 50 people gathered at a public testing event sponsored by the Oakland-Bay Area chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and learned why they should know their HIV status.
    About 40 people were tested that day at the event. Women like Betty Bloodgood, 61, who is low risk, but figured it was “better to know than not know.” Men like Ama Roach, who in his late 40’s, is not at high risk, but figured “why not?” By midday, only three of the 20 people tested so far were HIV positive.
    It’s great there is a designated day to shed light on the AIDS epidemic, but what about the other 364 days of the year?
    It wasn’t Dec. 1 when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new “gay cancer” that would soon affect millions of people globally, regardless of race, sex, age, religion or sexual orientation.
    It wasn’t Dec. 1 when West Oakland resident Sylvia Martei learned that her husband, after years of drug use, had infected her with HIV. The Puerto Rican native has lived with the disease for 11 years and unfortunately, has lost three siblings to AIDSrelated deaths.
    And it wasn’t Dec. 1 but early 1991 that I stood with a dear friend as an untrained, unqualified receptionist told him that he was HIV positive. Unfortunately, by that time, he had full-blown AIDS.
    The next year and a half was one I will never forget and will always treasure. And although he finally succumbed to the disease, this experience is one I wouldn’t trade for the world. You see, my friend’s death was inevitable … choices he made prior to my knowing him are the reason he contracted the disease. However, what I learned is that HIV/AIDS isn’t only about me, or my friend.
    Today, the CDC reports that 33 million people are living with HIV globally, with nearly 7,500 new infections occurring each day. In the United States, 1.1 million people are living with HIV.
    The epidemic continues to escalate because too many people — especially in this country — have become too complacent with the reality of the disease. Too many people are in denial that although it can hit close to home, it just can’t happen to them. Even one of those hosting the West Oakland event admitted she had never tested herself.
    There is a stigma that continues to wrap itself around the growing epidemic that needs to be eliminated. We need to understand that no one — no one — is immune. HIV/AIDS is an equal opportunity infectious disease, and unless you’ve never had unprotected sex (or sexual abuse), regardless if you are in a relationship or not, unless you’ve never been an intravenous drug user, unless you’ve never had a blood transfusion, you are at risk — albeit minimal — and need to put your own personal views and fears in the closet and educate yourself and those around you.
    Martei hits the nail on the head when she says the best way to stop HIV/AIDS is to talk about it … not ignore it.
    Ignorance may be bliss. But it also can kill you.

   Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com.
   Visit her blog at www.stpminute.blogspot.com.