The five HIV positive Bhutanese who appeared on BBS TV earlier this month may have achieved their noble intentions.
Their express objective was to fight the stigma associated with HIV and encourage people to come forward to test for HIV. And this is exactly what is happening. More and more people are coming out to test for HIV.
The Health Information and Service Centre in the capital recorded a huge increase in the number of visitors.
Every day, around eight people are coming to test for HIV. That is an increase of five people every day from last year. The increase is seen as an indication of positive change in attitude towards HIV and people with HIV.
Nawang Choida, a counselor at the health centre, believes that the BBS TV programme where the five HIV positive people appeared live “had an enormous impact on the people, encouraging them to come forward for testing.”
“In December 2010 only 91 clients turned up for voluntary testing. In December 2011, just in nine days, 105 clients volunteered to test for HIV.”
Draba Tshering, a teacher had come all the way from Wangduephodrang to get tested for HIV. He said he was encouraged after he saw the BBS TV programme.
“I got encouraged after I watched the live telecast on December 1st when our bold Bhutanese people who have HIV came forward on the public screen.”
Lobzang Tshering, an engineer, who had also come to test for HIV, said he was also “inspired by the five people who appeared on TV.”
According to the staff at the centre, the turn up is higher in summer than in winter. That, they believe, is because people migrate to warmer places in the winter.
The five HIV positive Bhutanese who came out in the open, disclosing their HIV status nationwide on a live TV show, said they were aware of the consequences of coming out in the open.
They said they, their children, and their family members could be discriminated against by people but they decided to come out in the open nonetheless considering the greater good it would do.
