HIV-Postive woman seeks end to prejudice
Preetinder Singh
Patiala: A 27-YEAR-OLD HIV-infected woman has lodged a complaint with the Bahadurgarh police that she has been deserted by her in-laws and is being discriminated against by villagers in Nawa Mahatpur, where she is staying. She is living with her daughter at her parents' house.
In the complaint filed on Wednesday, the woman said her in-laws abused her after she was diagnosed HIV-positive nine years ago.
"My in-laws threw me out of the house immediately after my husband's death six years ago. It didn't matter that Ihad acquired the infection from him," she said. She has been living with parents since.
"I am being punished for no fault of mine. Villagers have also ostracised me," she said. "They have even accused me of engaging in immoral activities."
She added that her efforts to clear their misconceptions about HIV/AIDS have failed.
The woman, working as an HIV/AIDS counsellor at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, said she was hopeful the government would come to her rescue as well as ensure that other HIV+ people are not subjected to such discrimination.
Social activist Preet Dhillon, associated with a local NGO, said the woman's experience was not a one-off. Dhillon said most HIV-positive people are discriminated against and health authorities have done nothing to help. Moreover, infected persons do not even have easy access to treatment.
Hindustan Times, 06 March, 2008 |
