By Mary Julie | Director - Programs
Nadiya is 19 years old and positive speaker among young people living with HIV. She has been open about her status to adolescents living with HIV in the support groups to encourage them to be positive about their future. In a recent incident in her village a school friend whom she had know from small had come to know about her HIV status after a miscarriage. Her name is Reena (name changed) and she had been studying with Nadiya in the same school until 6th standard .
As Reena’s parents died at a very early age and she was brought up by her aunt. Reena got married when she was 18 years and when she had a miscarriage she was tested and found HIV positive. It became a big shock for Reena when she learnt her husband was HIV negative. Later on verifying how she would have been affected, she found she was infected from birth and her parents had died due to AIDS. On knowing this, her husband has deserted her and she wanted to commit suicide.
Nadiya, who comes from the same village had learnt about the incident went and shared about her status and how she is living healthy with treatment. She also brought her to the center to meet with the support group to feel encouraged to see others like her.
At the end Reena expressed “If not for Nadiya I would have committed suicide, I lost complete hope as my husband had rejected me and now my aunt’s son’s wife with whom I am staying wants me out of the family as she fears HIV may be contracted to her child though my presence at home. But after coming here and seeing many like me, I feel supported and have hope”.
Dear Donor, we want to share this story, of how your money is providing care and support to adolescents living with HIV, who are often neglected or discriminated because of their health status in their community. Buds of Christ is able to support many children and adolescents living with HIV through your generous support. We welcome you to share these testimonies and reports to your friends and families and help us impact many young lives find hope and a future.
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