What is it like to be an HIV-positive individual living in Singapore?

Most of us may not know a person who lives with HIV. That doesn’t mean that they do not exist in our communities. In fact, there are about 6,000 people living with HIV in Singapore today, based on the combined statistics of all HIV clinics in Singapore, compiled by the Ministry of Health. Many of them fear revealing their status, as there is still a stigma attached to the virus. They could end up losing friends, being disowned or losing their job, because of the Singaporean public’s perception of HIV and HIV-positive individuals.

A large number of Singaporeans are still unaware of the true nature of the virus, and fear getting in contact with anyone who has HIV. Some still believe that if they were infected with the virus, it amounts to a death sentence. Because of these misconceptions, people living with HIV face tremendous pressure to keep their status a secret to their friends and family.

Here are some key experiences that many HIV-positive individuals experience in a conservative Asian society like Singapore.

Fear of going for HIV tests

Some people with higher risks of contracting HIV avoid going to get tested, for fear that their results come out positive. Some of them also fear the stigma that may come from walking into an HIV clinic in Singapore. This is a pressing issue. If these individuals are actually HIV-positive, they would live their lives without medication, and the virus could start taking a toll on their body. Their lifespan will be much shorter if they avoid getting tested.

Those who are considered to be at a higher risk of contracting HIV would include men who have sex with men, those who use drugs while having sex, or anyone who employs the services of sex workers. While it might feel shameful for these people to get an HIV test in Singapore, they should do so once every six months, so they can be certain of their status and receive treatment early if needed. Many STD clinics in Singapore offer confidential HIV testing, which means their results are not available to government hospitals and other medical institutions, so patients do not have to worry about their statuses being revealed or leaked.

Stigma: remnants of the AIDS scare

One of the causes of the HIV stigma that is weaved into the Singaporean society is the AIDS scare that happened in the US in the 1980s. Those who lived through that time would know of the cases of thousands of individuals dying to a virus that was later identified as AIDS. The news travelled all the way across the globe. When Singaporeans also started being diagnosed with HIV, the public did not have enough information about the virus. Back then, it was still considered a death sentence. With a multi-lingual yet conservative society like Singapore, it is hard to educate and provide correct information to the general public, especially when there was insufficient information to begin with. Many people then were terrified if being in the same room as anyone who was HIV positive.

Today, medical advancements have helped improve the lives of HIV-positive individuals tremendously. With a healthy lifestyle and regular medication, patients can live 20 or more years after being diagnosed. Health practitioners and educators in Singapore are trying to educate the public to debunk these myths and overthrow these misconceptions, but many HIV-positive individuals are still stuck with the stigma associated with it.

Conclusion

HIV is a virus that affects whole societies. It is with conscious effort that we can help HIV-positive individuals feel like they are just normal people. They belong in our society as much as we do.