Somy Ali expresses on World AIDS Day, ‘Even today, patients infected suffer due to the discrimination and stigma’!

Around the world, December 1 is commemorated as #WorldAIDSDay. There was a time when the concern and awareness created around the ailment was much, unlike what it is now. #SomyAli believes that we are defined by how we did not respond due to the stigma attached to AIDS. The actor-turned-humanitarian shares her opinion on AIDS and more.

“There was, and to some extent still is, brutal prejudice from the worldwide public to politicians. There was significant and open neglect during the Reagan Administration. Even today, patients infected suffer due to the discrimination and stigma. It is and was perhaps the most political disease. It is appalling how patients were left uncared for in their hospital beds and literally left for the dead alone abandoned by friends and families. There was so much emphasis on AIDS being a “gay disease” in the 80’s as if our LGBTQ community has not suffered enough until we learned that it was also a heterosexual disease and then soon after a baby was born infected with it. There was lots of ignorance where people did not want to comprehend that it was a blood born sexually transmitted disease that could not be spread by casual contact. People abusing drugs and using the same syringe where one of those might be infected was another big reason to catch the disease. It’s mind-blowing to learn that the disease came from chimpanzees and a single man who was infected by one who then went on to infect other humans,” Somy talks about AIDS in detail and busts myths, stereotypes as well.

Her Miami based NGO, No More Tears (NMT) worked with many AIDS patients and victims. “We have countless victims who suffer from AIDS due to being sex trafficked and the customers do not wear condoms thus they get infected. Obviously, the monstrosity is depicted by the traffickers for not caring or providing protection to the sex trafficking victims. At NMT, we treat victims with AIDS, the same as we would do with one without the disease,” she adds.

Celebrities used to endorse campaigns for Aids in a big way, and many feel it did make a difference. Somy also agrees.

“I commend Shabana [Azmi] Ji as I believe she was the first celebrity in Bollywood to speak up on this issue. An average person listens to celebrities and I believe Shabana ji is one of the most educated and intellectual beings in the film industry. Therefore, more celebrities need to speak up and come with campaigns not just on AIDS, but many other issues we are facing in India. People like Aamir [Khan], again another intellectual, and Shah Rukh [Khan], need to run campaigns on many issues. This will truly make a difference,” she says.

On her parting note, Somy adds, “I urge people to conduct thorough research before stigmatizing innocent individuals, be it AIDS or victim-blaming trauma survivors. Kindness is a virtue.”