Stop work

Times are tough. And become tougher if your employer knows that you have HIV. Especially if you are working for a school.

A few weeks ago a bus driver was admitted to a top hospital in Thane.

He had a fever that wasn't going away and wanted to be treated at a good place. He had mediclaim and so was confident he would be out soon.

He was, but his life is in tatters.

The hospital did a 'routine HIV test'. They told everyone about it.

The mediclaim people say that their policy does not cover people with HIV. The man was made to pay cash - which he did not have. His colleagues at work passed the hat around and got the cash to pay for him.

The school found out. Being a new-age school it has not hired this man - but rather is using the services of a contractor. The bus contractor has asked the man to stop working. One of the man's bosses came to meet Dr. Sheba. She wrote a letter stating that the man was perfectly fit to work.

But he has not been called back yet.

Meanwhile another employee of the same school - also positive is scared. She has HIV too. She has heard about this man - and that the school has brought a doctor to test all the new staff for HIV.

When will her turn come, she wonders. She has even considered quitting while she is ahead.

How long will this cruelty continue? Men and women living in fear. The medical fraternity quite willing to have people's lives crushed through their unwillingness on one hand to counsel and prepare before testing - and then their cavalier disregard for confidentiality afterwards?