24-year-old speaks of his struggles as a HIV+ man in China
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According to a report on sex education and AIDS prevention in China, nearly 3,000 young students aged 15-24 contracted HIV in 2020. Among the cases, sexual transmission accounted for 98.6%, while male homosexual related transmission contributed to 81.7%.
On the thirty-fourth World AIDS Day, China Central Television interviewed a 24-year-old HIV patient Xiao Lei.
A few years ago, Xiao Lei contracted HIV when he was still studying for his bachelor's degree. He said he was careless in "making friends" and ended getting infected with the virus.
He graduated in 2018, but passed up an opportunity to pursue a carreer in education, of which he is so pationate about, to take care of his health.
In 2019 he disclosed his condition as a HIV positive person to the public. He has since suffered serious cyber bullying, was forced out of the house by his landlord, blacklisted by friends, and even disowned by his own family.
His situation left him with no reliable means of earning an income, so he started making a living by selling goods on the Internet. He told reporters that he earns 10 yuan to 300 yuan a day.
"People are worried that the goods they buy from me might be infected with HIV," Xiao Lei told reporters, "I have to explain to them patiently over and over again." he added.
He has since gained more support from people and enthusiastic netizens keep encouraging him and hail him for his resilience.
Xiao Lei told reporters that whenever a subject of HIV comes people change the subject, they think that by not talking about it, they will not be infected by the disease.
For him, he decided to face it, hoping that other HIV positive patients will stop hiding and be open about their condition. "To me, HIV is not scary. What is scary is people's hearts and stigma." He said.
He is currently receiving regular treatment and his physical health has improved significantly. About his business, he said "I haven't reached my goal yet but I am getting there, I hope one day I will be successful."
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