HIV Does Not Diminish My Dignity as a Woman
May 5, 2025
Village Funds for HIV and AIDS Control
May 5, 2025No More Friends Lost to AIDS
Starting from the concern of seeing some friends who were sick and then died of AIDS, I decided to provide education about HIV and AIDS to as many people as possible. I don't want to see any more deaths due to AIDS. Through my profession as a motorcycle taxi driver, I spread information about the virus that causes a decrease in immunity to friends, especially fellow online motorcycle taxi driver.
This story begins with a friend's invitation through WhatsApp messages to participate in traditional massage training. CD Bethesda YAKKUM held the training activity for members of the AIDS Care Community. I was interested then, so I immediately answered and agreed to participate in the training.
Although I had attended the massage training, at that time, I didn't know what AIDS Care Community was, including its duties and activities. It wasn't until a few months later that I received an invitation to attend a regular AIDS Care Community meeting. It turned out that at that meeting, a new board was formed, and I was also asked to practice what I had learned from the massage training I had attended. This is where my involvement in activities at AIDS Care Community Pringgokusuman began.
Since participating in activities and agendas at AIDS Care Community, information and knowledge about HIV and AIDS have become more widely available. However, after gaining the knowledge, I have a little regret. Why didn't I know this information before? Especially when I remember that some close people I know got sick and then died. When I think back to my friends who were sick, some of them have signs, like people with HIV. There was a childhood friend whom I had not heard from for decades; when I met him again, his body condition was thin and sickly.
The next news turned out that he had died of AIDS. The lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS at that time made me unable to help, support, or just care for them. Reflecting on what happened to some of these friends, I was then determined to help spread information about HIV and AIDS. Aside from being a member of the AIDS Care Community, whose activities educate residents, I also try to spread the information anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. I also utilize my profession as an online motorcycle taxi driver who interacts with many people to share health information, especially with friends.
This story begins with a friend's invitation through WhatsApp messages to participate in traditional massage training. CD Bethesda YAKKUM held the training activity for members of the AIDS Care Community. I was interested then, so I immediately answered and agreed to participate in the training.
Although I had attended the massage training, at that time, I didn't know what AIDS Care Community was, including its duties and activities. It wasn't until a few months later that I received an invitation to attend a regular AIDS Care Community meeting. It turned out that at that meeting, a new board was formed, and I was also asked to practice what I had learned from the massage training I had attended. This is where my involvement in activities at AIDS Care Community Pringgokusuman began.
Since participating in activities and agendas at the AIDS Care Community, information and knowledge about HIV and AIDS have become more widely available. However, after gaining the knowledge, I have a little regret. Why didn't I know this information before? Especially when I remember that some close people I know got sick and then died. When I think back to my friends who were sick, some of them have signs, like people with HIV. There was a childhood friend whom I had not heard from for decades; when I met him again, his body condition was thin and sickly.
Gunarto giving a massage while providing HIV education to an online motorcycle taxi driver friend
The next news turned out that he had died of AIDS. The lack of knowledge about HIV and AIDS at that time made me unable to help, support, or just care for them. Reflecting on what happened to some of these friends, I was then determined to help spread information about HIV and AIDS. Aside from being a member of the AIDS Care Community, whose activities educate residents, I also try to spread the information anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. I also use my profession as an online motorcycle taxi driver who interacts with many people to share health information, especially with friends.
Gunarto chatting with an online motorcycle taxi driver friend while conducting HIV education.
It turns out that it is not as easy as imagined when trying to spread information about HIV and AIDS. Perhaps because the issue is still unfamiliar and there is still a high stigma of HIV and AIDS as something related to taboos and deviant behaviour. Some people refused to be spoken to about the topic. We must use the right method, language, and time when communicating. Through the AIDS Care Community activities I participated in, I have knowledge and skills in massage, making herbal medicine, and massage oil that can be used as a medium to enter the desired conversation.
I’m just trying to do my part to prevent the spread of new viruses, no more AIDS-related deaths, and no more stigma and discrimination for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Enough; I don’t want to see my friends die from the virus!
(Gunarto)
