Do not judge.
Huwag ka nang dumagdag pa sa bigat ng problema.
Alam na niyang nagkamali siya.
He or she now needs someone who genuinely cares for him or her especially that stigma and discrimination remain prevalent.
Check out these 5 guidelines on how you can reach out to somebody who has HIV.
- Listen.
Kung wala kang magandang sasabihin, be silent and making ka nalang. The person courageously opened up to you despite the risk of being criticized, pahalagahan mo ‘yun.
“Listening and responding without judgment goes a long way to helping them accept their new status,” says Michael Jamias, a counselor at LoveYourself, as cited in an article entitled [Dash of SAS] Someone just told me he has HIV. What do I say? What do I do? by Ana P. Santos of Rappler.
- Magtanong how they want to be supported.
After nila mag share, puwede ka na magtanong how they would like to be supported, says Jamias.
But take note! Huwag mo siyang pilitin. There are some who just want a listening friend so respect that. Basta ipakita mo sa kanya na you’re there for them when they are ready.
- Keep the information confidential.
Bilang isang trustworthy friend that the person expects you to be, huwag mo ipagkalat sa iba ‘yung pinagdadaanan niya kasi personal information ‘yun. Kaya ka ka nga tinawag na friend eh.
What you need to do is to reassure the person. Sabihin at ipakita mo sa kanya that your relationship will not change despite their HIV status and you will keep the information private kung ‘yun ang gusto niya, HIV.gov explained this in their article How Can You Help Someone Who Has Been Newly Diagnosed with HIV?.
- Educate yourself.
Part of supporting your loved one is having a solid understanding about HIV, HIV.gov explained.
You can check out other resources we posted on HIV – What to do if you have HIV and HIV myths and debunking them para dagdag kaalaman sa’yo.
Ready these resources na rin para sa loved one mo kung gusto nila, HIV.gov added. But don’t shove the information down their throat kung ayaw pa nila. Easy ka lang. Just ready them.
- Encourage them to see a doctor.
Para makapag-start na siya ng HIV treatment agad-agad, encourage them na magpa-checkup na, HIV.gov continues. You can also help the person na maghanap ng HIV care provider if wala pa siya.
And the best thing you can do for the person?
Pray for them.
Call us at 737-0-777 or text 0999-227-1927 we want to agree with you in prayer for your loved one who has HIV. I-message mo rin kami sa aming ICanBreakThrough Facebook page or Instagram account or email us.