With proper medial counselling:

HIV victim sees silverline in dark clouds

By Anuradha KODAGODA

December 1 has been nominated as the World AIDS Day and since 1988, December 1 has been dedicated around the globe to increase the awareness on the dreadful disease HIV AIDS, and to fight against the social prejudice.

The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in poor countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children in all the continents around the world.

However, the HIV epidemic in Sri Lanka remains at a low level. The estimated prevalence among the adult population is just 0.02 percent and there are only an estimated 3,000 people living with HIV in Sri Lanka, at a current average of 350 new infections per year.

"Unlike those days people are very much aware about the fatal disease HIV AIDS. There are so many government and non governmental organisations who conduct regular awareness programs among the communities especially who have the risk of getting infected by this disease" said Princy Mangalika, the courageous woman of our time who tries to see the silverline in the dark clouds in her life.

Let's listen to her story and think for a minute to ourselves how much attention and the responsibility that we have taken towards our loved ones to make sure not to be a vector of this fatal disease, HIV AIDS.

"My hometown is Ragama. I have two daughters who are married with children. This unfortunate incident happened eleven yours back in 2000. My husband had worked in Germany and in other countries for years as a chef.

I looked after my kids and stayed at home. As any other woman I also dreamt of a happy life to achieve some basic goals in life," she said.

"However, my husband couldn't stay in Germany longer as he had fallen sick and returned to Sri Lanka in 2000. Initially he had only slight fever which continued for sometime, so we admitted him to the General Hospital Colombo for medication. Few days later he got cured and returned home.

But, not for long. He fell sick again. This time he got high fever and severe pains in his body and was back again in the General Hospital. They did a few tests and the reports confirmed that he was HIV positive.

"My entire world turned into ashes. The news spread like lightning around the hospital and everywhere. People were so prejudiced and pelted stones at our house and wanted us to leave the town because they were scared of the disease. We couldn't stay in our own house. I was worried about my kids and took them and went to my hometown. The very next day I returned home and I got to know that my husband had committed suicide.

That was the most tragic incident in my life which I cannot forget. I loved him so much and I still couldn't believe how he got the courage to ruin all our dreams so easily and run away from the situation.

He died at the Kalubowila hospital and I must thank them for treating him. They disclosed that I too have HIV positive.

They never treated us separately and they treat the same way as they treat for other patients," she said.

"When I recall my past, I just can't believe the way I survived through the hardships. The only hope which kept me alive was my two daughters and I really appreciate them for keeping me going.

For the past eleven years Princy is one of the victims of HIV AIDS who got infected by her husband. With her story I could recall one of the modern advertisements which display a hand with all four fingers covered with condoms except the finger with the wedding ring.

The day I saw that advertisement I still can remember I felt it very creative and realistic which turned upside down with the Princy's story. Can any wife doubt about her husband or vice versa? It's not just a mere doubt or sexual jealousy that any man of woman can have towards their partner.

However, irrespective of the cultural barriers in Asian countries like ours it's our duty to influence awareness programs and sexual education among children, adolescents and even among adults to prevent from this fatal disease, HIV AIDS.

"It's my great fortune to meet Dr. Kamalika Abeyrathne who encouraged me to live my life confidently by understanding the responsibilities that I already had my two daughters and also the social responsibility that I had towards my country.

She gave me the courage to go forward and tell my story to make an awareness about this dreadful disease and later on how it had become one of my major responsibilities in my life," she said confidently.

"Other than Dr. Kamalika, the Salvation Army and the Department of Community Development Services have helped me a lot by directing me to get the right medication at the IDH hospital," she said.

"All through my life there's only a regret which hurts me most. That is I couldn't take care of my husband while he was infected with this fatal disease. Today in my organisation (Positive Women Network) I'm looking after more than 250 HIV AIDS infected people and we conduct counselling sessions, recommend proper medication, help in their livelihoods of their families and also encourage them to live the life confidently by being responsible to avoid spreading the disease in the country. By looking after these people I find peace," she concluded.