₦airaland Forum

The pharmacist lowered her voice the moment she saw the ARVs.

At first, the woman pretended not to notice.

She had already waited almost 40 minutes in a crowded pharmacy. People were close enough to hear anything said out loud.

When it got to her turn, she quietly handed over her prescription.

The pharmacist looked at it… then changed her tone immediately.

“Madam… come closer,” she said, lowering her voice.

That one whisper was enough.

Some people nearby turned to look.

The woman said she just felt small in that moment. Not because she did anything wrong, but because of how everything suddenly changed.

She took her drugs and left quietly.

But on her way home, she kept thinking about one thing:

“If some healthcare workers make people feel like this… how many will just stop coming?”

That stayed with me.

Because for many people living with HIV in Nigeria, it’s not only about the illness.

It’s the silence.

The fear of being seen.
The fear of being talked about.
The way people’s tone changes once they see the drugs.

And sometimes, one small moment like that is enough for someone to avoid treatment.

The truth is simple.

The drugs help people live.
But dignity is what keeps them coming back.

So the question is not just about having access to ARVs.

It is this:

How many people are quietly stopping treatment because of how they’re made to feel?

Nairaland family, what do you think? is stigma in healthcare getting better in Nigeria, or just going underground?

The quietness could be to help the carrier too.
What if everyone around start stigmatising the patient because they heard what the pharmacist is discussing with the patient

Nawa, sorry o, ogaa o, hmmmn,

Do you want to hear the truth

The pharmacist did what was right
She tried her best to protect the dignity of her patient the best she could

She lowered her voice as against the normal room loudness so people don't poke nose into the patient issue, she probably will have done same if the patient has cancer or some other incurable transmittable sickness

HIV is different from malaria or common cold, unless you want to deceive yourself or you want to feel good

In this scenario the victim mentality is not on the pharmacist but you

It's getting better now. As majority no longer believe in that thing you called HIV.

One thing must kill a man sha

I stand with raw. Any time any day. 4 times in a day

Whoever values a good health wouldn’t bother much about stigmatization. Health is wealth!

HIV is nothing naa
Dem see they fear HIV again lol not really
Cancers, hapatitis B and C worst pass HIV, even kidney disease that dialysis worst

Alot of people actually have HIV but they don't know
Only hepatitis B and C test when I do fear finished me only to come out negative, same with HIV so nothing Rong with HIV and the stigma just take your ARV
Nothing special life goes on

Skidooo:
It's getting better now. As majority no longer believe in that thing you called HIV.

I dey chop am raw like no tomorrow. The funny thing there is that my casava will just die immediately I insert protection

You're battling for your life and talking about what people think?

She wasn't discrimating, she felt compassion for you

Leepeak:
HIV is nothing naa
Dem see they fear HIV again lol not really
Cancers, hapatitis B and C worst pass HIV, even kidney disease that dialysis worst

Alot of people actually have HIV but they don't know
Only hepatitis B and C test when I do fear finished me only to come out negative, same with HIV so nothing Rong with HIV and the stigma just take your ARV
Nothing special life goes on

Wrong not rong. Correct it. School is a scam crew

Nawa o una too dey Paranoia even if me I dey there, I know know wetin be ARVs I even thought it's one powerful car like phantom SUV.
Madam go thy way forget about people and keep living. The difference between you and most Nigerians is that you know your status. Most of us eh, leav-am.

Every dosing instruction or prrscription analysis should be done privately or at least out of earshot, even if it's for antimalarial meds.

So, which one is lowering voice for ARV prescription?!! Do you shout when instructing about antibiotics or cough medications?!

Is that how Physicians shout when attending to some patients, and whisper when attending to others?!!

This gist makes no sense abeg.

Abeg, na many things they kill for this naija, everybody go still die last last .

RetroviralS:
The pharmacist lowered her voice the moment she saw the ARVs.

At first, the woman pretended not to notice.

She had already waited almost 40 minutes in a crowded pharmacy. People were close enough to hear anything said out loud.

When it got to her turn, she quietly handed over her prescription.

The pharmacist looked at it… then changed her tone immediately.

“Madam… come closer,” she said, lowering her voice.

That one whisper was enough.

Some people nearby turned to look.

The woman said she just felt small in that moment. Not because she did anything wrong, but because of how everything suddenly changed.

She took her drugs and left quietly.

But on her way home, she kept thinking about one thing:

“If some healthcare workers make people feel like this… how many will just stop coming?”

That stayed with me.

Because for many people living with HIV in Nigeria, it’s not only about the illness.

It’s the silence.

The fear of being seen.
The fear of being talked about.
The way people’s tone changes once they see the drugs.

And sometimes, one small moment like that is enough for someone to avoid treatment.

The truth is simple.

The drugs help people live.
But dignity is what keeps them coming back.

So the question is not just about having access to ARVs.

It is this:

How many people are quietly stopping treatment because of how they’re made to feel?

Nairaland family, what do you think? is stigma in healthcare getting better in Nigeria, or just going underground?

What is the pharmacist supposed to do ?

You were trying to tell a story but your writing is horrible.

Can't even figure out the message you're trying to pass.

People cry about HIV..

Try Herpes and the blisters wey go betray in front of your girlfriend, then you go know.

She knows what she's doing.

What's ARV? Mods, Writeups should be complete and self explanatory, even if it fiction or eye witness report

erad:
You were trying to tell a story but your writing is horrible.

Can't even figure out the message you're trying to pass.

I'm telling u. What nonsense is this?
I didnt even make head or tail of what the story was all about.
I just had to google to find out that it was a drug for management of HIV

Was the Pharmacist wrong?

Ur head will correct...no body go force u to believe ...ur body go tell u

Skidooo:
It's getting better now. As majority no longer believe in that thing you called HIV.

The pharmacist acted professionally. She demonstrated empathy and gave consideration to privacy interests by asking the patient to come closer. What else could she have done?

Professionally and morally the pharmacist did his or her best at that moment.... She tried as much as possible to protect your privacy even though the facility made it difficult which wasn't in his/her power.... You are trying to make the pharmacist a villian when he/she was your hero

Sonofgod1990:
One thing must kill a man sha

I stand with raw. Any time any day. 4 times in a day

Broda Nnamdi,
All your friends dey work, your own na Samankwe.........

Sonofgod1990:
One thing must kill a man sha

I stand with raw. Any time any day. 4 times in a day

Then you sha d*e a painful de*th

If the pharmacist raise her voice, problem

Was the pharmacist supposed to shout so everyone will know she has HIV?

He did what was right which is to lower his voice before giving her the HIV drugs in a crowded pharmacy.

OlujobaSamuel:
The quietness could be to help the carrier too.
What if everyone around start stigmatising the patient because they heard what the pharmacist is discussing with the patient

No mind her. If the pharmacist had spoken out loud, she would still come crying about shaming her. Human beings, especially EVE-lyns,are simply impossible.

Would the patient have preferred that the pharmacist announce the ARVs to everyone's hearing?