HIV in the Himalayas {3/9}

BACK | NEXT

Aashu is 21 and HIV +

When I was 15 my parents arranged my marriage and I moved to my in-lawsÔ house near Pokhara. A year later I had a son. Three years after that my husband became ill with pneumonia and diarrhoea. He told me had had sex with another woman who was HIV+. We were both tested at INFÔs ÍPaluwaÔ programme and found to be positive. Three months after he became seriously ill he died. Most of the time he was at home and we took care of him. He spent some time in INFÔs Green Pastures Hospital. After he died I thought I would soon die too. I was worried about what would happen to my son. My son was tested but thankfully he is negative.

A new attitude: At Paluwa I learned I could live with a positive attitude. I gained hope. IÔm working as a volunteer for Paluwa. I meet other HIV+ people and encourage them, sometimes I tell them my story. I like the work. I used to think being HIV+ meant life was over. But thatÔs not true and I want others to know it. IÔm now studying but hope to remain involved in Paluwa and help HIV+ people, especially women. We hope to arrange group meetings.

Hoping for change: My family and in-laws have always been supportive, they know IÔm HIV+. Some families wonÔt have anything to do with someone who is HIV+. People are afraid of HIV because they donÔt understand it. I really hope this will change.

Aashu is not the womanÔs real name but one she chose to use for this article. It means ÍtearÔ. She was speaking to INFÔs Henja Visser.