Community shuns woman living with HIV

December 1 is World Aids Day.

In this day and age stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV remains a huge challenge.

While great strides have been made in the fight against HIV-Aids, stigma remains a big challenge to the government, civil society organisations and communities around the country.

This year, the World Aids Day theme is Zero Stigma and Discrimination, casting the spotlight on the struggles of ordinary people who often have to deal with stigma and discrimination in their communities.

In 2012, Anna* a young woman from Westbury was on her way back from visiting friends when she was brutally raped by a man who is known to her.

Anna is now raising a child from that incident.

After her rape ordeal she went for an HIV test that came back positive.

“My doctor said I would die if I didn’t take them.”

This is the explanation from Anna on why she started taking antiretroviral (ARVs) despite some resistance to taking the medication.

She learnt two years ago that she is HIV-positive.

A two-year-old boy was running and playing right outside the kitchen door, Anna said that God has blessed her with a healthy baby boy.

“I have HIV and raising my perpetrator’s child,” said Anna.

In the Westbury community, rape generally doesn’t get reported because of the perpetrators are often known to their victims.

“I was so ashamed and besides that the man that raped me is a notorious drug lord in my community and threateedn to kill my family if I said anything,” said Anna.

Telling her parents what had happened to her was in her words the greatest test in her life time.

“I had to process it quick and educate myself because being the first child that brings HIV into our home was taboo.

“My parents disowned me and now I was left on the streets,” said Anna.

Residents started treating her differently because she was pregnant and had HIV.

“People stopped talking to me, pulling their children into the yards when I walk past.

“It got out that I was HIV positive,” said Anna

While government has made strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS more needs to be done with the stigma, discrimination and myths in communities like Westbury.

* not her real name.

@Journalist_Marv