The seeds that were planted in my brain during the pre-testing counseling were effective that I began to feel anxious to know the results of my HIV test. Prior to the test, I just wanted to get it done and over with to complete my visa requirements. After the doctor gave me that look and told me baka tumikim ng ibang babae ang mister ko, and that the results even if negative would not be conclusive because of the incubation period and that others get a false positive result, I began to doubt what could be the result of my test.
If I took it seriously then I would not be able to sleep well until the incubation period had passed. And by then I would already be looking like a 200-year-old zombie parading around EDSA.
It was more of an inconvenience because if it turns out falsely positive, I have to do it all over again and I don’t have time since I am traveling soon.
Lahat yata ng tao merong ubo and sipon ngayon. Edmund had a very bad cold and cough when we were in Bacolod. Lucky me, I escaped from getting infected. Then it was Oyen’s turn to catch the virus in the middle of this month. Drivers, security, office personnel, Antonia also had flu, two of our maids are now down with flu. Nahawa na rin ako. I woke up last Sunday morning with a sore throat. I’ve been managing it without taking any medication except for extra dosage of vitamin C. I am traveling long haul in two days and I really have to gather strength.
So yesterday, on my way to the laboratory to get the HIV results, I began to worry that my results could be positive I did some mental check list. Did I use needles? Durugista ba ako? Did I get any blood transfusion?. Hindi rin ako nakipaglambutsingan. Since the answers were all no, naisip ko, naku my sipon and ubo could give the results false positive. Kung anu-ano na ang naisip ko.
Before the hospital released the results, they called someone who will counsel me again. There was counseling before the testing and counseling after the test. A guy came who was dressed more of a nurse. He was holding an envelope. He directed me to one of the cubicles where they extract blood.
Guy—-“Dito na lang.”
I sat down, then he handed me over a sealed envelope with big letters CONFIDENTIAL. I wasted no time in lecturing him about my disgust over the manner the tests and the questions were conducted. Sobrang offensive. I told him, they should lecture the patient AFTER the test. Ang dami kong sinabi, talak ako ng talak. The most convenient excuse he gave was they were just following the Department of Health’s directive.
They subject people to indignation.
The guy stood there in front of me, feeling ko parang akong empleyado nya, and then he asked me to open the sealed envelope. I felt like he was anticipating it would be positive. Then he reminded me again that my next result could be positive because I wasn’t sure about my husband’s sexual activities, impliedly.
He said despite these tests, more and more people still contract AIDS. Because of unprotected sex between same sex, opposite sexes.
Ibig sabihin the DOH’s campaign is not effective. They should change their approach, their tactics, clearly walang epek!
How can DOH encourage more sexually active individuals to have themselves tested for HIV if this is the way they make them feel. First line of questioning pa lang parang aalis na. Were you born with HIV positive mother? Did you have sex with a female with no condom? Eh babae nagpi-feel up ng form, sino kaya magco-condom?
Something is wrong is with the sensitivity chip of people in Pinas lately from banko to hospitals.
Ang delivery lagi ng message is so negative at judgemental. Lilitanya pa.
Something is wrong with the sensitivity ng tao sa pinas na nasa service industry. To think na nasa atin ang customer service industry ng mga companies all over world.
Napaka negative ng dating ng delivery at SOBRANG judgmental.
And it is ridiculuos how they always direct their insensitivity sa directive ng banko sentral or sa department of health. How convenient.