Jakarta, November 8, 2024 – "I am fed up with the stigma that is always attached to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV). People have always seen me as a 'bad woman' and societal trash, even though I am just a housewife who contracted HIV from my late husband, a former intravenous drug user," expressed Hages Budiman, an HIV survivor and Chairperson of the NGO Kumpulan Dengan Segala Aksi (Kuldesak). This statement was made at the talk show #NoStigma HIV and AIDS Education: So We All Understand Better, held by VIVO, a brand under the healthcare company Danpac. The event, held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, was a collaboration with Campaign, the startup behind the social campaign app Campaign #ForABetterWorld.

Hages is a real-life example that people with HIV can lead a normal and active life with adequate education. "I was once discriminated against by healthcare providers who told me I couldn’t get married again or have children. However, with the right education, I was able to prove that I could have an HIV-negative child," she added. Unfortunately, the stigma and misinformation surrounding people with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) still prevent them from seeking information and medical care, impacting their health and the spread of the virus.

In response to this situation, VIVO partnered with Campaign to launch a social campaign on the Campaign #ForABetterWorld app to raise public awareness about HIV and AIDS. “VIVO is always committed to contributing to HIV and AIDS prevention, from providing preventive health tools like condoms to working to eliminate negative stigma toward people with HIV and AIDS through the #NoStigma social campaign, which is presented in a fun way,” said Yoevan Wiraatmaja, CEO of Danpac.

Intan Siagian, Project Lead for the #NoStigma Social Campaign, explained that through the Campaign #ForABetterWorld app, the public can participate in the campaign anytime and anywhere. "It’s simple: supporters just need to complete social actions, such as writing messages of encouragement for PLHIV and taking selfies with a red ribbon as a symbol of solidarity. Through these actions, supporters also help organizations receive donations that will fund HIV and AIDS education programs," Intan explained. The campaign is organized in collaboration with seven social organizations dedicated to overcoming the stigma related to HIV and AIDS, with funding support from VIVO.

Campaign supporters who complete the actions will automatically unlock donations at no cost. These donations, provided by VIVO as a sponsor of the campaign, will be allocated to various HIV and AIDS-related activities, such as workshops, school supplies for children with HIV, and more. The #NoStigma social campaign is currently ongoing. Download the Campaign #ForABetterWorld app on the App Store or Google Play to support this campaign.