Positive Warriors Association Malaysia (PPWM) is the first Muslim's PLHIV NGO in Asia and the 2nd Muslim PLHIV association in the world already launch in October 2012. This association is focusing to reduce the stigma and discrimination of society in Malaysia to people living with HIV especially Muslim's PLHIV. PPWM also focusing not only the infected people but also affected people like Wife, Husband, Child and also family.
This group actively doing many event to build an awareness from Malaysian society to not discriminate and stigmatize PLHIV and give them a hope to live on. Many issue in workplace, health issue and legal issue handle by PPWM.
PPWM is a private and safe place where PLHIV can share and find information and service that can help them tom improve their life. For most PLHIV have a many issue of discriminate in this recent years because the misunderstanding of society about HIV & AIDS. PPWM have a good leader and facilitator that can help clients to meet family understanding about this issue.
PPWM service is :
1. Counselling unit - where PPWM counselor ready to give a consultation
2. Peer support programmed
3. Training and Workshop to PLHIV and also the affected people
4. Strengthen the understanding of religion as a means of coping with HIV.
PPWM build support groups for PLHIV to share problems and things that can build their morale. This group is a safe place for all PLHIV congregate.
For those who want to have a counseling and free anonymous HIV testing can contact PPWM trough website POSITIVE WARRIORS and also Blog at AKU HIV POSITIF
The HIV treatment is very simple. The treatment is
counselling and pharmacology. If there is an infection such as STD or any
others chronic disease suffered by PLHIV such as diabetes, its required extra
treatment.
How the pharmacology treatment will be able to treat HIV?
Briefly, the most general pharmacology treatment is JAART.
When someone has effected of HIV, the virus will spread in human body. The
calculation of the virus can be determined in a term call Viral Load. Virus
normally needs a “house” and the “house” is an antibody system which called
CD4.
To develop and spread, the virus will destroy the immune
system in human body (CD4) in slowly. However, CD4 can be high or lower
according to the level of health for one individual and not causes by the HIV
only.
Before the treatment start, the doctor will analyse the
health condition of the PLHIV including the CD4 test. Generally, when the
readings of the CD4 for male bellow 350 and for female bellow 250, the PLHIV is
pregnant, intent to get married, intent to have children and etc., the HAART
treatment will be started.
Remember, the virus inside the semen not the sperm.
The obedient to the treatment normally can cause the virus
until to the undetectable level. This means the treatment is working and the
PLHIV can be considering equally same as other non PLHIV. The reading of CD4 is
important before the treatment, but the Viral Load reading is more important
after the treatment started.
How to start the treatment?
You may get the treatment in hospital, under department ID
(Infectious Diseases). If you are diagnosed in hospital or government clinic,
the next procedure is a Standard Of Procedures.
If you are diagnosed in private clinic, please bring
together the reference letter and inform at the registration counter. The next
procedure will be proceed. If there is no reference letter, kindly inform that
you need a screening HIV test.
If you are not comfortable using the term HIV please use the
term RVD during dealing with the matter. RVD stand for Retroviral Disease the
other name of HIV.
What about the alternative treatment?
Briefly, the alternative treatment is the other alternative
other than pharmacology treatment. So far I don’t trust any other alternative
treatment even though there are numbers of testimonial for alternative
treatment. No need to waste monies and time, in addition they never tested the
effectiveness of the treatment with the blood test.
In my personal opinion, those people who go with the
alternative treatment and supplement food is a PLHIV who still in the stage of
grief reaction in compromise phase. In this phase the PLHIV is starting to
accept their situation and try to find the best alternative for their health.
At this particular moment normally they easily become the manipulation victim.
What is the best supplement food for the PLHIV?
Supplement food is the supplement food to increase the immune
in the human body. It is purposely not to cure the HIV.
Because of the immune system for PLHIV is weak, it is good
for them to have various supplement foods addition food but do not simply get
influenced with every supplement food.
If PLHIV intent to take supplement food advisable to get
advice from the doctor in a reasonable amount. Avoid take too much supplement
foods than can cause panic reaction. This panic reaction can cause panic
buying.
Sometime the supplement food can give certain effect to the
pharmacology treatment. HARRT can cause dehydration, it can give effect to the
heart function and kidney. Every organ has the limitation function. Make sure
the supplement foods did not give any effect to the others chronic diseases
such as diabetes, heart diseases and hepatitis.
The best supplement food is the “sunnah foods”. Must
remember, the prayer, reading the al Quran, doa-doa syifa’, zikr, healthy life
style and think positive about life. Do not afraid of the virus more than
afraid of Allah s.w.t.
What is the complementary treatment?
Complementary treatment is the combination of the
pharmacology treatment and the alternative treatment including supplement food.
If you can afford for it then it depend on you, however
please ensure that all the basic info above has fully understand. Beside that
please ensure that you are not neglect the pharmacology treatment. Obedient to
the treatment is mandatory. The period blood test is most important.
Is the HAART treatment dangerous to the PLHIV and give side
effect in long term?
Please do not be bind with the unnecessary info and easily
get influenced. The treatment given is the best treatment and has been proved
effective. The modern treatment is also amount to the Islamic treatment.
The paranoid behaviour to the side effect of the treatment
can cause negative mind. Medication and observation from the doctor can
minimize the risk. If any medication (not limited to this medication) if take
overdose can caused side effect.
The doctor always observed the kidney function and heart. A
little side effect is normal in fact the PLHIV is lucky because they keep
update with their health status. Learn to be thanks and think positive. The
consistent light exercise is necessary for PLHIV.
How long can PLHIV survive?
The answer is no specific answer because is beyond our
capability because it in God hand. It could be a minute, a day, a week, a month
or a year. However, as far as I concern, with the proper treatment and good
life style, there a numbers of PLHIV can survive until 30 years. PLHIV is not
necessary die because of HIV or AIDS.
Is there any way for PLHIV to get married and having
children free HIV?
The answer is yes. Please refer to my previous entry that
has discussed this issue.
After being diagnosed as People Living with the HIV (PLHIV),
the individual and the closest family member normally deal with the similar
issues. The normally have no idea how to deal with the issues. So hoping this
share will give some ideas and help them out.
The understanding of HIV and AIDS in general
HIV is the virus that can survive only in human body. This
HIV virus is very weak but until today it con not treated. HIV is not a disease
but a virus and similar with others virus.
For sure, HIV can be treating as well as others chronic
disease such as diabetes, heart disease and others. There is no harm for the
people who have HIV as long they take proper medication and fully understand
about this virus.
AIDS is a short term referring to a group of diseases that
normally attack PLHIV effect from the weak immune. There are about 30 types of
diseases. Those diseases can attack anyone but if occur to PLHIV, it might part
of the sign for AODS such as TB, cancer and others.
AIDS can b treating by using the right treatment, AIDS can
be assuming never occur. So, is wrong to think that AIDS is a disease of HIV in
a final stage and the ending life of PLHIV.
In that case, why there a number of PLHIV who had scabies,
skinny, lifeless and etc?
Anyone who suffered from any diseases not limited to the
PLHIV, without any proper treatment will having the same issues. If practice
unhealthy life styles the impact will be the same.
Please stop the typical thinking that be exposed in
conventional mass media. There is numbers of professional living as PLHIV such
as engineer, lawyer, teacher, lecturer, CEO, journalist, doctor and accountant.
Not less of them living healthy and have a stable financial and prestige in
society. So, please do not look down to them.
The infection factors
There is only 4 ways that HIV can be infected which are:
1. Having
sexual intercourse in multiple couple without any preventive measure.
2. Through
the vertical which is from the couple of PLHIV to the children during the
pregnancy,
during the birth process or during the breastfeeding (without
treatment).
3. Sharing
needles and syringes contaminated with HIV.
4. Blood
transfusion or organ transplant contaminated with HIV.
So no worries, HIV is unable to occur any others way except
as stated above.
True Confession From The Malaya Project
There is no infection in a casual relationship such as
kissing, hugging, sharing clothes, treatment, talking, sport activities, eating
food served by PLHIV, shake hand, touching and etc. beside 4 ways above, there
is no other way HIV can be infected.
In the case of the wife of PLHIV is not a HIV positive, the
children also will not have a HIV positive. PLHIV who have been diagnosed
should have no worry regarding to the risk of infection to the children except
if the children itself doing any risky activities without PLHIV knowledge.
If the virus has been exposed in the air, the virus will
die. If there is a small injury or cut to the PLHIV and the non PLHIV skin
cracks is also not an issue. The virus only can survive in human body of PLHIV
and if still wondering or have the doubt, people can simply do the medical
checkup.
Please do not ask the percentage of the risk of has been
exposed with the risky activities. I can say that there is no infection during
the oral sex (without injection of semen in human body) or during the sexual
intercourse using condom but I’m not God. Human error can always occur. Do not
wait for the symptom to any risk and do the test soonest possible.
My answers will be standard, if have doubt then please do
the “Rapid Test” at any medical clinic, hospital, blood test lab (private). If
still not satisfied with the result, please do the test until satisfied.
What should I understand if I or my family members has been
diagnosed with HIV positive?
Someone can be diagnosed positive with or without the
symptom. If he person has been diagnosed with the symptom, this maybe they
being diagnosed during they was admitted in hospital because others disease
such as TB or hepatitis B.
If being diagnosed without symptom is most probably during
the test for pre wedding, medical checkup for new employee or during donating
blood.
If make comparison from both, the diagnosed without symptom
normally even lucky because in a good health, easy to treat and no need for the
HAART treatment. However still have the risk to affect the virus to couple
during the sexual intercourse without any preventive measures.
What is the normal reaction as soon someone has being
diagnosed as PLHIV?
The normal reaction for them same as chronic patients for
others chronic disease will have grief reaction. The will shocked, denying,
confused, compromise and finally started to accept the fact of life.
Often this matter been related to the moral issues, and the
most common for a PLHIV is they feel like they lost their dignity. Even though
the PLHIV have fully understanding on HIV, after being diagnosed, they surely
lost their hope and need to be confidence even in basic matter.
They might imagined they been humiliation, short live
period, being abandon by society, lost their future and all the negative
impact.
During this time period, family and friends will be their
best companion that should give attention and support, understand their
unstable emotion. The family and friends should not push them in order to know
the causes of the infection whereby the PLHIV might tell lie and this will
amount to a worse scenario. In this stage PLHIV might defense themselves cause
by denial is a normal thing.
When the situation getting calm is up to you to decide or
take action. As a couple and future couple, they have a right to know the
truth. Beside the couple, is the best not to let others know about the status
because is not an issue anymore. It is just can causes the judgmental among
them.
Try to be a good
listener. Try to get helps or assistance from the professional people like
doctor, trained counselor, or any support group community.
How to help family members or friends who being diagnosed as
PLHIV?
Treat them like they used to be before being diagnosed. Do
not show them the ignorant attitude towards the PLHIV such as starting to set
the limit for example separate the dish, glasses and do not allowed them to
touch children.
To the couple (husband and wife) please do the HIV test soonest
possible. Avoid sexual activity for temporary until clear with the basic
infection issues and your medical status. If you are not the couple or the
parents or the siblings, you make huge mistake by doing that.
PLHIV who received the treatment is not harm to non PLHIV in
fact the non PLHIV might harm the PLHIV because the lower level of immune of
PLHIV. Please do not walk away when for example they sneezing.
Find and understand the basic info of HIV. PLHIV itself have
to be honest with them. Don’t be too selfish and harm others.
If you are Muslim, surely you will look this as a test from
Allah s.w.t shows how Allah s.w.t love you and the best strength you can get is
from Allah s.w.t. try to improve the relationship with Allah s.w.t because that
is the true sources of our strength.
Remember, behind the HIV is not only PLHIV but also a lot of
people who become the victim because of the misunderstanding. They are your
couple, children and your family members. Do not easily to judge. PLHIV have
the right to be guide and support to continue their journey of life and to get
the proper treatment. Less of knowledge regarding to the HIV is the main factor
that HIV spread faster. There a numbers of other diseases that more chronic
than HIV.
This is the new scheme that introduced by Malaysian AIDS Councill (MAC). This scheme purpose is to help other people who are cant afford to buy the medicine for those who not able to buy it. But i must tell you guys that most of ARV Medicine (HAART) for first line is still free but not for the 2nd line and so on.
If you want to help MAC with this scheme you can direct contact and make a donation to above :
Maybank account : Malaysian AIDS Foundation Account number : 514105 – 421257
Kindly inform us when you have submitted your donation to our account. Malaysian AIDS Foundation can issue a tax exemption receipt for any donation larger than RM 50.00
What is HAART? HAART is Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy and it is the latest treatment for those who are HIV-positive. It can help prolong life and promote a more healthy life. This treatment is a combination of three anti-retroviral drugs are different. Drug Combinations Why there should be three different types of drugs? So far no drug produced can provide good treatment. Research proves that the combination / combination of drugs work better than just a drug. What are the three types and the role of different medications? It can be divided into 3 groups: (1) Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors - NRTI NRTI act as building blocks of cell rupture. This causes HIV to multiply in the cell-T built in a burst blocks. This weakens HIV. (2) Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) - NNRTI NNRTI give the wrong direction to HIV during the building process so that HIV becomes weak and easily destroyed. (3) Protease Inhibitors - PI PI act as workers put the damaged materials in the construction of each virus. This also impair HIV. Combination / combination of these drugs to build a wall around the block T-cell HIV from attacking T-cells.
What will happen if I do not take drugs? This will facilitate HIV T-cells to attack you. Your CD4 cell count will be reduced. This means that your immune system will be weakened and you will be more susceptible to disease. It will also make the number of HIV (viral content) - viral load in your body increases.
As I used to shared, when someone live their life
as ODHSA, the matter of treatment and the chances of living healthy as others
normal people is not the main issues. The main issues is the stigma. The effect
of the stigma, all the family members and relatives become judgmental,
discriminate, and paranoia. And also including malpractice.
PLHIV suffered not because of the virus but because
of the mentality among the society.
The sad stories lie in the eyes of PLHIV?
For PLHIV, is a normal when they have to face with the
unjust and cruel situation in their life. For example broke off his/her
engagement, hatred among family in law, being humiliated byhusbandorwife, being ignored by family, apostasy,brokenfaith, 'have' remain
in aforbiddenway of life,
boycott, isolated grave and
others.
"That's not myissue, the'disease'
intentionallysought." "Scabby, pus, Clorox bath, homeless, living
dead." "The members of hell, the people of Lut, due toplague'and the curse
ofGod." "Do not touch, separate the dishes,do notlive togetheror sharing toiletandbath
it not safe using the same swimming pool, cannot sharethe furniture, notqualified
to be a son/daughter in law..." Anothercliche! A
lot of the PLHIV alreadyimmuneorpretend not tounderstand.
Here area few examples ofthe latestcasesthatIconfrontedduring
the week.
Case no 1
A single PLHIV who qualified physical and mental
working as an engineer failed to renew the employment contract after the
employee (private sector) has enforced all the staff to do the HIV test. The
engineer was so upset and frustrated since this is the bestopportunityto develop the career and the continuously of
life and also helping the family.
The income to support all the expenses such as the
housing loan payment, the car loan payment, the family expenses and others is
now gone. What is the level of the discrimination practiced by this people?
It’s weird when others staff who suffered others disease which more risky and
danger allowed to work. HIV is just a virus not even a disease.
How’s the non PLHIV feel if they in the PLHIV
situation? Be responsible as the leader of the family but out of sudden lost
the income to support family. Who really sick actually?
Case no 2
One of the community members (PLHIV) has been fired
from the legal firm (repeated a legal firm) just because take a medical leave
and was admitted to the hospital to get the treatment because suffered an
allergic effect from the early treatment of HAART.
Undeniable that the private sector only focusing on
getting profit and have no idea the status of PLHIV but just imagine the
pressure suffered by the PLHIV. If the status of the PLHIV is not being exposed
or being exposed also an issues since the treatment is only for the temporary.
When the temporary treatment done, the next treatment is periodictreatment and is only for every 6 month.
Others staff who suffered others disease and need
medical leave every month never been questioned. Meanwhile the PLHIV need to
hide the status, living in an ordinary ward alone and when submit the medical
certificate for medical leave, the PLHIV been questioned and finally was
terminated from the job. All the contribution and the commitment given by the PLHIV
towards the company before that seem like it never happen.
Case No 3
This community members (OHHA) is working as a nurse
in a Hospital in Klang. The nurse is just finished HAART treatment as well as
Hepatitis C treatment. Sometime the nurse have to get medical leave for others
treatment from others hospital because suffered allergic for an early
treatment.
If the nurse get the treatment form the university
where the nurse are working, it will exposed the nurse to the risky that people
around the nurse might know what kind of disease the nurse suffered. Because
among the nurses, they normally will spread the news in fast to others people.
The problem starting arise when the Sister
started questioned the reason the nurse take the medical leave and what
type of disease the nurse suffered.
It is can be understood the reason the Sister have
to know but as a well-trained medical practitioner, with full of experienced
and familiar with the medical ethic, the Sister
must know the patient’s rights.
The impact of working beyond the nurse capability,
the nurse finally have to work in working shift like the nurse used before work
even though the nurse has informed the condition for temporary. And finally,
the impact of working beyond the capability causing the side effect like dizziness and often experiencing fever.
Because of the egger
to know the status of the nurse, the Sister
has contacted the hospital where the nurse get the treatment and asking about
the treatment in order to know the medical status of the nurse.
Once the Sister fond out the medical status of
the nurse which is against the ethic, the Sister
supposed to give her support and empathy but the Sister spread the news and causes the nurse suffered a lot and need
to leave the job.
Apart from these three
stories, there are many others stories which is not only limited to the losing
job and failed to further study. For the people outside (non PLHIV) who have
negative thinking and judgmental. Let’s think and lean the lesson.
And for those (PLHIV)
who suffering, please contact the organization like MAC and PTF to get help and
defend their right. At least all the report can be used as prove that this
community has been treating unjust. If this action is not give the significant
now it might give positive effect in future.
THE MARRIAGE OF PEOPLE LIVING HIV (PLHIV) AND NON PEOPLE
LIVING HIV.
PLHIV who married with non PLHIV can avoid the infection and
having children free HIV by using the right method and treatment.
The explanation:
The couple who will get married and have the intention of
having children must get the HAART treatment before the sexual intercourse and
when the treatment was effective, it can be considered as there is no risk of
infection.
The term of “can be considered as there is no risk of
infection” must be use because we are not God and if the negligence of the
couple during the sexual intercourse.
By using the HAART treatment the virus can control until the
stage of
Undetectable and when it reaches of this stage, the virus is
unable to spread.
Furthermore, according to the latest research by WHO, in
this Undetectable stage, without the use of condom is still consider as safe
from the risk of infection.
If the couple use the condom during the sexual intercourse
certainly the level of protection is very high. This also means that the couple
can have the children free HIV.
HOW IF THE DOCTOR DID NOT PROPOSE THE HAART TREATMENT?
Supposedly all the couple who will get married is entitled
to get the HAART treatment in order for them to prevent the infection the other
non PLHIV couple and the children. The PLHIV must seek for an advice from the
doctor and entitled to get as many opinions and support from different doctors
if they are not satisfied with one doctor.
The use of condom in this circumstance is compulsory and the
couple is advised not to have children without prior HAART treatment.
THE PLHIV HAS STARTED HAART TREATMENT, VIRAL LOAD UNDETECTABLE
AND INTENT TO HAVE CHILDREN, BUT HOW CAN THE PLHIV HAVE CHILDREN IF THEY USE
CONDOM DURING THE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE?
The PLHIV must seek and advice from the doctor regarding to
the menstrual cycle and fertile time. During that time, is unnecessary to use
the condom while having sexual intercourse.
Unnecessary to use the condom means when almost reach to the
climax the condom can be removed.
Another choice is, if the husband is non PLHIV, is more safe
if the semen insert in the syringe before inject into the vagina of the wife.
According to the friend’s experience, by using the right
treatment and method, the infection never took place to the couple and the
children.
If the husband is non PLHIV, the method is still the same.
Note: Please ensure that you are free from any venereal
disease and Hepatitis.
THE MARRIAGE OF PLHIV AND PLHIV
The method use is similar with the method as discussed above.
Even though both are PLHIV, the treatment and the use of protection is
mandatory because there are a different quantity of virus in each individual.
The PLHIV who have lower Viral Load is risky of download higher Viral Load.
HIV CAN BE EFECTED IN 4 WAYS AS BELLOW:
By having sexual intercourse with the PLHIV (without
treatment) and have no preventive measures.
Through the vertical which is from the couple of PLHIV to
the children during the pregnancy, during the birth process or during the
breastfeeding (without treatment).
Sharing needles and syringes contaminated with HIV.
Blood transfusion or organ transplant contaminated with HIV.
Note: The virus can only lasting in the in body fluids, if
being exposed outside the human body, the virus will die.
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