HIV positive widow struggles to provide for her children

“I hid my disease from my children until I thought they were old enough to handle the news. They were furious at first because they feared they would be stigmatized because of my condition, since AIDS is considered to bring shame to a family. They were also afraid that they could contract the disease from me. But, they settled down after we talked about it,” she says.

Jamila’s 13-year-old son, Muhammad Waqar, is an eighth grade student at a high school for boys, while her 15-year-old daughter, Sonia, is a tenth grade student at a high school for girls. Fortunately neither one is infected with HIV/AIDS.

Zahir was infected by a syringe when working as a doctor at a local city hospital. When he became ill, his brother took him to the hospital, where he tested positively for AIDS. While Zahir’s siblings and relatives were informed of his condition, Jamila was not. Sadly, Zahir died just two months later.

I was pregnant when my husband died. Our baby was also infected by AIDS and died three months after he was born. After the baby died I got tested for HIV and found out that I, too, had the disease

“Since I did not know he had HIV, I thought he died from fear of his sickness. I could see that he was growing weak in his body and mind, and it seemed to me that his fear and worry caused him to die so quickly,” she admits.

“I was pregnant when he died. Our baby was also infected by AIDS and died three months after he was born. After the baby died I got tested for HIV and found out that I, too, had the disease,” explains Jamila with great sadness. Only then did Zahir’s siblings inform Jamila that her husband had died from AIDS.

Since then, Jamila’s life has continued to change for the worse. “My in-laws do not treat me well and don’t allow me to do work around the house because they think I will transmit this disease to them. But I want to work,” says Jamila.

“When my children get sick, I cannot take them to the hospital for treatment because I have no source of income. My mother, brother and sisters pay for what they can of my children’s medical treatments,” says Jamila.

“My first priority is to get medicine for my children when they are sick, and then to help them get more decent clothes and the best education possible. To me, these are their basic needs.”

Fortunately, Jamila receives compassion and care from other family members. “My mother’s side of the family is friendly to me and takes good care of me. I am not restricted in my mother’s house, but am free to hug my nephews and mingle with the others. Everyone there is nice to me,” she adds with a touch of happiness in her voice.

When my children get sick, I cannot take them to the hospital for treatment because I have no source of income

“I want my daughter to be trained to stitch. I have learned how to sew at a local vocational training centre.” Jamila attended the training and received a sewing machine to generate income thanks to support from World Vision.

World Vision refers women in Kohat suffering from HIV to the Women’s Vocational Centre, where they are trained on skills such as tailoring, stitching and embroidery. World Vision pays the training fees of the women it refers to the centre and ensures the women receive necessary follow up support, such as the provision of sewing machines.

Jamila meets with staff from World Vision and the Pakistan Village Development Programme (PVDP) at her mother’s house, since her in-laws do not allow her to meet with others. PVDP partners with World Vision to support those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

“I have a good time with the staff when they come. They teach me about this disease - what it is, how it is transmitted to others, and how I can live longer despite it. Now I know other people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, and often discuss with them the disease and how to make our community more aware of it.”

I have a good time with the staff when they come. They teach me about this disease - what it is, how it is transmitted to others, and how I can live longer despite it.

“Doctor Salma takes good care of me. She treats me well whenever I need to see her. The staff guided me and provided me with the right medicines. They take me to hospital for testing and treatment from time to time,” Jamila adds.

World Vision’s project DEKH BHAAL aims to provide care and support to persons and families suffering from HIV/AIDS in the Kohat and Karack districts of North West Frontier Province, with infected persons also coming from Bunno, Parachinar, Hungo and Miranshah. Since the project was initiated in October 2007, it has provided direct support to approximately 40 persons living with HIV, 400 family members of persons living with HIV, 1,000 schoolchildren and 80 medical practitioners and health workers.