A life rebuilt
29 February 2008
Thanks to the support of Alliance linking organisation, Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance (KHANA), and People Living with HIV/AIDS Network, 26 year old *Veasna from Cambodia now earns a living running a small floating restaurant on the sea at Sihanoukville.
As Veasna, who is HIV positive, serves a glass of coffee to one of her customers she tells her story and how she’s using her experiences to educate others.
“I really have had a bitter experience. I want to share my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned with other people in my community so that they can help stop the spread of HIV in their families and communities,” said Veasna.
“When my husband, a fisherman, died I did not know that he had HIV. Then my two sons got sick and I found out that they were HIV positive. After that I went to have my blood tested and also discovered that I was HIV positive.”
Following the death of her two children, Veasna did not know what to do or where to go next. She faced discrimination from her parents and other family members.
The People Living with HIV/AIDS Network is a local NGO in Sihanoukville who helped Veasna rebuild her life. Through the network Veasna receives life-saving antiretroviral treatment and 30kg of rice, 1kg of cooking oil and 0.5kg of salt per month. The food comes from the World Food Programme through KHANA.
After Veasna’s health improved she decided to join Sihanouk Ville CPN+’s self-help group. In November 2007 she attended a workshop, Strengthening Coordination and Communication in the Community with 20 other women affected by HIV.
“You know as a wife staying at home I contracted HIV from my husband and my children contracted it from their father. What I want to do is give a message to the public, that men must be faithful to their wives,” she said.
“They must use condoms properly when they want to have sex with other partners who are not their wives. This will help to reduce the spread of HIV and help develop their families and our society.”
Veasna is now living peacefully with an adopted daughter and thanks to the small loan from KHANA she was able to buy tools, rent a floating restaurant and start a business.
“After my husband and two beloved children died I felt like I had nothing remaining in my life. Now I feel better.”
*Name changed.