#13 Being Born with HIV

Choosing elective posting as a way to spend my summer has its pros; I get to choose the field that I like and fully experience it without any stress or pressure of exams. I study because I want to, not because I have to. Anyway, I’ve been in Paediatrics for quite some time now and being attached to HIV clinic was an experience I’ll never forget. All of us have heard or read articles, stories and news about HIV in adults. However, have we ever thought about HIV infection in babies, children and adolescents?* This experience had opened my eyes and mind toward other perspectives of HIV/AIDS. Growing up with HIV/AIDS is a whole, different ball game. This is because they are innocent. It is not their fault. They were born with HIV because of one or both of their parents’ mistakes. It was disheartening for me when I saw a baby came in to the clinic because of HIV. The baby has to take medications from that age and throughout his life. Imagine at that age, being shackled and dependent to only one thing that can prolong your life. Once you stop, death comes knocking. For school-age children, it will be a dilemma for them to take their meds as they need to take them during school period. Some patients don’t even go to school because they are afraid of stigmatization and discrimination. Dreams of being a doctor, police and firefighter are just dreams. They can’t even work in government to support their families if they want to.

During one of the consultations, a mother told the specialist that she still stay with her husband despite knowing that the husband cheated on her and spread HIV to her and her child consecutively. I could see the pain in her eyes while confirming these facts. This is because she is poor and has no other choice but to stay in order to raise her child. I know some of you wouldn’t agree with her decision, but a lot of people in Sabah live in rural areas with low socio-economic status.

HIV infection is detrimental if not under treatment. It can also affect the person emotionally. If any of you has had unprotected sexual intercourse before, please get yourselves checked. It is not only important for your life, but also for lives of others and your future children. Especially your children.

*Children can be infected with HIV as the virus will be transmitted when they are in their mothers’ wombs, or passing through the birth canal or through breastfeeding.

#hiv #children