Ref: A Tale of Two HIV Positive Women

February 1, 2006

Dear FORUM,

This refer to the message A Tale of Two HIV Positive Women appeared on AIDS

INDIA e FORUM. /message/5368

" Being diagnosed HIV+ was bad enough, but 32 year old Seema (name changed) had

to face worse- she was sexually exploited by her father-in-law for 10 days after

her husbands death " . Radha Sharma, the TOI reporter has changed the 32-year-old

woman's name. I thank her for her concern for maintaining confidentiality.

The real life situation of people living with HIV/AIDS in India is much more

tougher than pulp fictions. The report had a positive side of comparing two

contrast approaches people have towards their fellow beings living with

HIV/AIDS. But when I read through the whole story the Intro stood apart from the

rest. It caters to an image easy to associate with already stigmatized people.

It is necessary to avoid depicting negative images associating with people

living with HIV/AIDS. Why an HIV positive woman, any widow in India could face

similar situations?

A possible angle of his (her father-in-law's) violent ignorance risking him with

the infection could have been a striking message.

Journalists with good intentions too tend to get carried away with the

sensational angle.

Seema's refusal to put up with the abuse and the courage she has shown to rent a

house and earn a living for her two children could have been a better side of

the story.

Radha Sahrama continues…

" Life has been tough as she is expected to earn a living as well as live with

the virus that constantly bogs her down with fever and other illness. "

People living with HIV do not expect sympathy from the media and the public.

They require right information and right support at the right time.

The message is also factually misleading. I have friends living with the virus

for the last 18 years, more healthy, active and cheerful han me. No body expects

that a person living with HIV should depend on others for their living.

They could be as productive as any other, and can plan their life ahead and plan

for their children's future. All they require, like any other human being is an

enabled environment.

Portrayal of harmful stereotypes like person with the virus stoned to death, or

even raped can promote a negative image about the people living with HIV. Words

with negative associations, unnecessary dramatization and pity should be avoided

to create an enabled environment for who live with HIV.

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