Buena Bariring was just 18 when she had the biggest surprise of her
life: While applying for a job, the nurse in charge of her medical
examination revealed to her that she tested positive for hepatitis B.
“That time, I did not know the impact of that finding. In fact, it
surprised me considering that since childhood, I was never seriously ill
or felt anything wrong with me,” Bariring said.
It was the start of her ordeal as she found out that having hepatitis
B was like being handed a death sentence. “I can’t continue my studies
as I have no money. But then, I can’t land a decent job because of my
health condition. The few companies who hired me assigned me to a job
where I would have the least human contact,” lamented Bariring who is
now a member of Yellow Warriors Society Philippines, an organization
dedicated to fighting all forms of discrimination against hepatitis B
and C carriers, and diminishing suffering from them through advocacy,
research, education and service.
Labels: Advocacy, discrimination, living with hepatitis, Personal Stories, Philippines