*This article is not written in malice but merely to highlight an aspect of a HIV+ patient’s experience in accessing health care.The story is a TRUE story. (Comments have been disabled for this post)
In government hospitals, all patients are directed to the venepuncture room for blood taking, unlike in UMMC, where the ID doctors themselves do the blood taking for HIV patients. And so, Jimbo’s patients with HIV have to go to the venepuncture room by appointment to have their blood taken.
One of Jimbo’s patient later related what happened when he went for blood taking. He is a newly diagnosed HIV and the risk factor for him was MSM-activities. At the venepuncture counter, he was asked these questions, while his blood was being drawn (meaning, he can’t actually get up and walk away!).
“abang, mana abang pergi berlasak?” (where did you fool around?)
“you ni, main jarum ke?” (are you an intravenous drug user?)
Jimbo’s patient felt that it was none of their business to do a ‘history taking’ while taking blood. After complaining to Jimbo in the clinic, he later sent a formal complaint letter to the hospital regarding this issue.
Jimbo’s not sure what action was taken. He only hopes that whatever it was, it would turn out better for the patients. 
Fri, 180909 @ 0700
