Story of a strong mother - SAATH | TOGETHER
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25 May Story of a strong mother

Posted at 11:24h in HakunaMatata, Saath by
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She was shivering. Her cheeks were turning red. As we enter her room, she requested us to speak in a very low voice. She doesn’t want her neighbors to listen to our conversation. It was suffocating as the small room was all surrounded by denigrating neighbors who are always ready to make a gossip about the innocent woman who is living alone.

Sita (name changed), 35 lives with her 2 daughters in a rented room in Chabahil, Kathmandu. She is not only struggling each day from poverty but also with her health, as she is infected with still discriminated and stigmatized issue HIV. She used to run a “Nangle Shop” in Chabahil from where she managed to earn a little money for survival. But now because of poor health condition, she is not being able to continue her work.

“I always used to lock my daughters inside the room on Saturdays when I go out for work. I don’t want my neighbors to bother my children by asking them with unnecessary questions. The fact is I don’t want them to know that I and one of my daughters is HIV infected.” Sita shares her problem in a soft voice. She adds “One Saturday, my daughters insisted to take them with me and all of us went together for work. This particular day was April 25th, 2015, when the mega earthquake hit our country. The whole wall of my room got destructed on this day leaving us homeless, room less. But I was happy my children were safe with me. I thank god for everything.”

On May 6th, 2016, SAATH team went to Sita didi’s home to hand over the nutrition pack. At this time, we observed how difficult the situation is for single mother like Sita didi. HIV infection have made things worst for her. People living with HIV/AIDS not only face medical problems but also social problems associated with the infection. It isolates people from the community and affects the overall quality of life of people living with HIV.

The irony is that multitudes of organization are helping HIV affected population with all tangible and intangible means, but it has not been able to tackle the common taboo of shaming HIV & AIDS. The view of society is hard to be changed and that is the sinister for the infected people rather than HIV & AIDS in the first place.

Contributed by Chandani Kayastha (Program Coordinator – Hakuna Matata Program)

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