Chronicle Of A Person Living With A Positive Status

One morning, I woke up to discover that I had been added to a WhatsApp group for people living with HIV. I was not asked. I was not informed. I did not give consent.

The person who added me was someone who works at the facility where I collect my medication. While her intention may have been to “help,” the action itself was deeply inappropriate and harmful.

What troubled me most was recognizing two contacts in the group,my tailor and a parent from my child’s former school. In that moment, I realized something important: my HIV status had potentially been exposed to people in my everyday life without my permission. I immediately exited the group, but leaving did not undo the violation of my privacy.

Support groups are important. No one disputes that. Many people living with HIV benefit greatly from shared experiences, encouragement, and community. I have met individuals who openly disclose their status and are proud to do so. 

They educate others, advocate publicly, and refuse to be defined by stigma.
But disclosure is a personal choice, not a collective decision.
Not everyone living with HIV is ready or willing to o share their status beyond their healthcare provider. Some people are protecting their families, their children, their workplaces, and their social relationships. Others simply value their privacy. All of these choices are valid.

Adding someone to an HIV-related group without consent is not support,it is exposure.
Health workers and support organizers must understand that good intentions do not cancel out ethical responsibility. Confidentiality is not optional. Consent is not a courtesy,it is a right. A person’s medical status should never be shared directly or indirectly without clear permission.

Living with HIV already comes with enough challenges: stigma, misinformation, fear, and judgment. We should not be adding breaches of trust to that list.
If a support group is being formed, invite people do not add them. Explain the purpose. Allow them to decide freely. Respect a “no” without question.

Atimes these people behave as if they're demi god to us. Talk down on patients and you won't want to escalate so you don't compromise your status. I earned my respect the day I called one to order and I threatened to report to their admin that I don't care if my status is exposed, since then, we had mutual respect for eachother.