Fighting the stigma of HIV in India

Rajan. "I am forty years old and married with two children. I work as a trucker. Three years ago i was diagnosed as being HIV positive. My wife was also tested but was negative. She was very disturbed. After four months she left, took the children with her and took up with someone else. Since then I only see my children from a distance at their school. I lead a lonely life now, my wife's entire family has been against me, but I feel really confident. I take good care of myself, I get regular treatment and councelling, and I am still working. My family knows about my status, although most people just think I have TB and diabetes. All the people in my village are really supportive. My only real problem is the longing I feel for my children, loosing my family. The disease is not so serious, but what people do to the diseased is heartbreaking."

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Contained in galleries: Fighting the Stigma in India

Rajan. "I am forty years old and married with two children. I work as a trucker. Three years ago i was diagnosed as being HIV positive. My wife was also tested but was negative. She was very disturbed. After four months she left, took the children with her and took up with someone else. Since then I only see my children from a distance at their school. I lead a lonely life now, my wife's entire family has been against me, but I feel really confident. I take good care of myself, I get regular treatment and councelling, and I am still working. My family knows about my status, although most people just think I have TB and diabetes. All the people in my village are really supportive. My only real problem is the longing I feel for my children, loosing my family. The disease is not so serious, but what people do to the diseased is heartbreaking."