Health
HIV carrier finds new life in promoting awareness in the city
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-01 11:32
University student Gong Wei (not his real name) was shocked to find that his sexual orientation not only brought him inner struggle, but also the panic of death. He is gay and an HIV carrier.
However, different from other AIDS carriers, Gong has learnt to be optimistic.
"Everyone has the right to enjoy life, and so do people with AIDS," he said.
Last year, he joined a group of 70 volunteers who are HIV positive to promote the knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention in spa centers, KTV, bars and other public places in Beijing.
These volunteers always gave lessons to people in the bars. Gong said that some workers even didn't know that AIDS could be spread through unprotected sex.
Before he started his college life in Beijing in 2003, Gong had known his sexual orientation. Single life in Beijing made him feel lonely and he began to make friends on the Internet.
He responded to an online advertisement for a one-night stand and made some easy money.
But bad news was soon to come. He had a fever for two months in June 2006 and a doctor told him that he was HIV positive.
"I fell back into the chair holding the medical report from Chaoyang district center for disease control and prevention," he said.
In order to bolster Gong's spirits, an AIDS prevention volunteer named Xiao Dong tried to encourage him by saying that he was living a happy and healthy life after getting the virus.
He also told Gong that he could make his own life more wonderful than others. Gong gradually kept his spirits up with the help from volunteers and his parents. He decided to join the volunteer group for HIV/AIDS prevention.
"I still remember the first time I gave a handbook and a condom to a girl at Sanlitun, she threw it away," he said. "She accepted it after I told her that I just wanted to help more people know how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS."
Source: Beijing Times
