CHENNAI: Living with HIV is a complex battle marked not only by physical and mental hardships but also by the profound social stigma surrounding the illness. Many individuals resiliently face this journey, highlighting the crucial need for empathy, awareness, and dispelling misconceptions.
G Sanjai, a 21-year-old from rural Namakkal, who has been living with HIV since birth, recently took a courageous decision to openly share his condition in a bid to dispel of the general prejudice against those who are HIV-positive.
His decision not to hide the infection was not merely a personal one but was influenced by the touching story of a Class 7 girl who participates in support meetings for HIV-positive individuals in their locality. The girl, residing with her grandmother after losing her parents, faced discrimination when her teachers, succumbing to the stigma surrounding HIV, asked her not to come to school regularly.
Motivated by her challenges, Sanjai chose to talk about his experience of living with HIV in order to challenge and deplatform all misinformation surrounding the topic.
Sanjai stays with his father in Thottiyam Thottam village. His mother passed away recently. She had been HIV-positive, like his father. “I recall having to take three tablets each morning and night starting from Class 3. I wouldn’t always take them and often questioned why I was the only one required to take tablets when my sisters weren’t. I would be asked to sit separately at school when I developed wounds after failing to take tablets,” Sanjai recalls.
However, his life changed for the better when he started attending support group meetings for HIV-positive individuals when he was in Class 8. “I saw several people leading a healthy lifestyle with HIV and was inspired by them. Slowly, I started taking tablets regularly with the hope that I could also lead a normal life. However, I was still hesitant to tell people that I am HIV-positive and even told my friends only recently,” he says.
Thanks to consistent treatment, Sanjai now enjoys a healthy life, with his HIV status rendered ‘undetectable’. After completing a visual communications course, he now works as a video editor for an NGO that helps HIV-positive individuals.
Apart from equipping him with a comprehensive understanding of HIV right during his teenage years, the crucial support meetings also imparted many life skills to Sanjai.These support sessions not only educated him about facing adversities in life but also guided him in shaping his career path.
“I found inspiration in my support group where individuals discussed their challenges and methods. Now, I aspire to serve as an example for children facing similar challenges. There are several myths surrounding HIV, and individuals like me strive to dispel them. This is a small step towards creating acceptance in society for HIV-positive individuals. All that individuals like me require from others is empathy, which can instil confidence in us,” he declares.
Sanjai recently shared his story on the YouTube channel HIV & AIDS - Nambikkaiyum Nalvaalvum. He also engages in creating awareness in rural areas along with NGOs to break the stigma surrounding those who are HIV-positive and bring a change to how society views them.