How to Tell?

Gusto ko ishare about sa friend ko, na namatay sa AIDS last June 2014 :( hindi sinabe ng family nia yung kinamatay nia, sabe lang cancer, then sobrang nagulat kami nung may nagpakilala samen n xa daw guy lover ng friend  ko, at knwento nia lahat.. Di  kami makapaniwala kasi ni isa samen, walang nakaalam na bisexual xa.alam namen n babaero xa, kasi bad boy look xa...pero yung gusto dn pala nia lalake, di namen alam yon:(

Sobrang nalungkot kami sa dinanas ng kaibigan ko:( napakapayat nia sa kabaong.di mo akalain na 27 years old  lanng xa ....last meet namen last year, ang payat na nia, sbe nia stress lang.. Kaya pala nung 2012, inoperahan xa sa leeg, sign na pala yon n madame n bcteria sa katawan nia.pumutok n yung lymph nodes nia. Tpos unti unti na siya pumayat hanggang sa nanghina... Natakot ako siempre kasi may nangyre smen, pero thankful ako, nagpacheck up ako sa RITM, negative result naman...

Kinakatakot ko lang yung mga nakasex nia na babae at lalake,nahawaan dn ba sila? Sabe kasi nila saken, unprotected sex yung gawin nila yon...siguro naman nakaramdam na sila kung ano ibig  ko sabihin....pero tanong padin sila ng tanong kung bakit ko ba natanonng yon.... Gusto ko sila tulungan pero di ko alam kung pano ko sasabihin sa kanila..ang alam kasi nila cancer tlaga kinamatay ng friend ko..

XXX

POZZIEPINOY'S RESPONSE

Hi XXX.

Thank you for your email. Thank you for sharing your concern.

This is truly a hard scenario as there are things to be considered:

1. The family has the right not to disclose the actual cause of death of their family member

2. You have the responsibility to respect the family's decision 

3. You have to respect the privacy of your friend who died

4. However, you have an obligation to inform the people who you knew who he slept with that they need to get tested and know their health status.

The best way is to discreetly and anonymously inform them. Get a prepaid sim and text all the people who you know who he had unprotected sex with and tell them that they need to take the HIV test. You may do this as frequent as you want. In general, you may text this:

"The HIV cases in the Philippines is increasing in an alarming rate. Transmission happens for both heterosexuals and homosexuals. If you had previous unprotected sex, please take the HIV test ASAP. For the HIV Testing sites, visit projectredribbon.org"

By doing this, you'll be able to deliver your message to the people concerned and you have done your part. If they take it seriously or not, then it is up to them. 

Once again, thank you for your email and let me and my readers know if your friends got tested.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy