Dear Eve,

I'm not HIV-positive but I have a friend who is. There is a lot of talk about disclosure surrounding people who are infected with the virus. Is it is absolutely necessary for someone to disclose their status?

Yours,Unsure

Dear Unsure,

When a person is diagnosed as HIV-positive, one of their first duties is to write the names of their recent sexual contact(s) to give to their doctor or their health-care provider. This list of names is confidential and is done anonymously. The list of names is also used by the Ministry of Health through their contact investigators to inform persons who may have been exposed to the virus.

My personal belief is that it is the responsibility of the infected person to inform their current sexual partner of their HIV status. This disclosure can be highly emotional and persons may need professional help to guide them through the process (doctors or counsellors).

Disclosure is a very personal choice and depends on a variety of issues. One issue to be considered is that you may lose your livelihood. For example, if you are self-employed you may want to consider the impact this could have on your client-base. This is also true for certain employed people who can lose their jobs and livelihood if they disclose their HIV status. The Government, along with private sector entities, is in the process of establishing a legal framework where it is illegal and discriminatory to dismiss someone on the basis of their HIV status.

Most persons diagnosed with HIV find the strength and courage to disclose to some family and friends, as they think it is necessary for their survival. Persons falling in this category usually ask their family and friends to keep this information confidential.

There are a few persons who are diagnosed with HIV who only feel it necessary to disclose to their health-care provider because they have to. Further disclosures for these persons might come later as they become more comfortable with their diagnosis or it may never materialise.

There are only a few HIV- positive persons living in Jamaica who have reached the stage of full disclosure; that is, they have told their family and friends, disclosed to their community and they are able to advocate and share their stories with the wider society.

Generally speaking, an HIV-infected person who has not disclosed feels as if they are carrying around with them a burden. The secret of HIV become burdensome when you have to deceive friends and family about your condition. The lies becomes part of the fabric of a wall of silence that many HIV-positive persons live with. I believe that having to keep a burdensome secret along with having to tell lies to support it can sometimes change your personality and the essence of who you are.

Rosemarie Stone has been living with HIV for more than 15 years. You can send her your questions relating to HIV and AIDS issues to info@eveforlife.org or write to Dear Eve, C/O Jamaica Observer.

  3 comments

  0 comments

  3 comments

  6 comments

  1 comments

  2 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  5 comments

  6 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments