Individuals that have been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS possess several overlapping strengths but also have unique skills from person to person. The four that are incredibly essential to their own lives as well as to a wider community include emotional resilience, communication skills, medical knowledge of the condition, and empathy. Living with an illness that can be life-ending and otherwise incredibly detrimental puts a lot of stress and negative emotions on a person, and those that can manage their illness with their daily lives have likely developed strong emotional resilience (Madell, 2019). Though communication skills may vary from individual to individual, many patients diagnosed with HIV or AIDS are familiar with speaking about their condition and other factors. Similarly, they are likely to have cohesive medical knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS that is supported by their own experience. Empathy is also something that can occur when they are confronted with individuals who suffer from the same or similar illnesses, as they share several experiences.
STOP AIDS Delaware has several goals, of which the most fundamental ones include the prevention of HIV/AIDS prevalence and the ability to provide services or resources to individuals that have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. As such, the organization’s initiative in Wilmington can utilize the skills of the community leaders in education as well as communication regarding the spread of HIV/AIDS. Their communication skills and medical knowledge can provide information on the necessary steps for prevention, screening, and treatment in the case that some community members may be unaware of the correct procedures. Additionally, their abilities of emotional resilience and empathy can provide a safe place for certain individuals to ask questions and voice concerns that they may otherwise be unable to.
Reference
Madell, R. (2019). Battling the stress of living with chronic illness. Healthline. Web.