The Story of Rizti, 9 Years Accompanying Husbands with HIV / AIDS, to Build a Red Ribbon Community. Page all

SUMEDANG, KOMPAS.com – Being an OHIDA or person who lives with people with HIV / AIDS and paying attention to them is certainly not easy.

However, Rizti Agralina Barmana was able to do this.

Birth women Sumedang, April 7, 1978, was able to survive for 9 years accompanying her husband who was sentenced to positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

In fact, this woman who works as a veterinarian is able to motivate her husband to live a healthy life until now.

“Before my divorce in 2013, I accompanied the husband who was diagnosed with HIV for 9 years,” said Rizti to Kompas.com at Waroeng Kopi Boehoen, Sumedang city, Tuesday (30/11/2020) night.

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Got HIV / AIDS because of sharing drug syringes

Rizti said that her ex-husband was infected with HIV due to drug syringes, which he used to consume when he was young, long before he married him.

“After getting married, it was found out that she was HIV positive. Initially, she found out, at that time, a close friend died, then she became seriously ill. Because I used to share drug needles with each other, I suggest checking and the results are HIV positive,” said Rizti.

Rizti said the bad news was the toughest moment in his life.

Moreover, said Rizti, some time ago, his only child who was 2 years old was also called God Almighty, due to an accident, he fell and died.

“At that time, his only child died in an accident,” said Rizti.

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Husband infected with HIV / AIDS, child died

Rizti said, the news that the husband was HIV positive and the child died was a tough test that he had to live with.

“But, on the other hand, in addition to the severe test, God also gave me incredible strength, through him I learned about many things in life about patience and sincerity to accept His decree” said Rizti.

Desperate contact without contraception

Rizti said, after losing her only child and being in the midst of a husband who is infected with the HIV virus, the desire to have children again is very strong.

Although her husband is very vulnerable to contracting HIV, because of this strong desire to have children, he is determined to have husband and wife sex without contraception.

“I wanted to have another child, I had sex without contraception. Of course, this is not a good thing to imitate. And every four months after having sex, I tested for HIV. But Alhamdulillah, every time I tested it, I was always negative (HIV). The doctor was also surprised because my test results were always negative, “said Rizti.

Finally divorced

However, said Rizti, the Creator has never approved the desire to have a baby again.

Until finally, after nine years of accompanying this husband who was diagnosed with HIV, God said differently and separation was the best way to go.

“We separated not because he had HIV, but it was his destiny to separate,” said Rizti.

The hardest moment, when my husband was seriously ill

Rizti said that the hardest moment of going through the pain suffered by her husband was spent for two years.

“Because at that time, my husband was seriously ill. Apart from the HIV he suffered, it was also due to co-morbidities from HIV, TB and hepatitis,” said Rizti.

However, said Rizti, those tough times were passed because of her husband’s enthusiasm and discipline in taking medicine. Starting from antiretroviral drugs (ARV) for HIV, to drugs for Tuberculosis (TB).

“In a day, the husband takes 9 pills of medicine. I continue to give motivation. Alhamdulillah, my husband is also disciplined in taking the medicine every day. In fact, until now, he always drinks ARV drugs every day,” said Rizti.

Grateful and always happy

Rizti said, always being grateful and living a happy life are the biggest strengths that can make her survive, as well as being a figure of encouragement for her ex-husband, who at that time was sentenced to HIV, to remain enthusiastic about life.

“Even though he has separated and my husband has remarried with someone else, I am grateful that my ex-husband has lived a healthy life until now. His HIV cannot be cured, but he can still survive and live a healthy life thanks to his discipline in taking medicine. “said Rizti.

Red Ribbon Community Forms

Rizti said it was the bitter experience of life knowing that her husband had HIV and that her only child was left behind, which gave her a source of strength to continue living life gratefully.

Reflecting on this, Rizti finally decided to form the Red Ribbon Community.

A community that is concerned about helping orphans with HIV AIDS, PLWHA and OHIDA to keep the spirit of living. Also concerned about various women’s problems.

“I was given such a tough trial as well as an infinite gift, so I thought, my life must be useful for others. From here, I and other friends then formed the Red Pita Community,” said Rizti.

Many cases are concerning

In the Red Ribbon Community, Rizti found many concerning cases.

Rizti said, many of those living with HIV in remote areas far from urban areas, their lives are helpless because of the lack of information they get.

“In Sumedang, for example, I found a case, a married couple living with HIV. Their lives could not be helped because of the lack of information about HIV they received. Sadly, because of this lack of information, people living with HIV in this remote area transmit this disease to the child they were born with. “In fact, HIV transmission to children can be minimized if during the birth process is carried out correctly, for example through a cesarean section,” said Rizti.

In addition, said Rizti, many HIV cases found with the community today are from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) couples.

So personal counseling

Rizti said, through the Pita Merah Community, he also provides personal counseling, especially for people with HIV who do not want to open their status yet.

In addition, said Rizti, he and his community continue to provide HIV-related education, especially for residents in remote rural areas that are far from urban areas and have minimal access to HIV-related information.

Currently, said Rizti, the Pita Merah Community which he formed has concentrated in three regions in West Java.

Apart from Sumedang, there are also in Sukabumi and Indramayu Regency.

“Apart from being counseling, we also convey HIV-related education, especially to LGBT people who are vulnerable to transmitting HIV,” said Rizti.

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