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HIV makes them outcast

Akbar Hossain
Rahima Akhter (not real name), a widow of 35, tested positive for HIV three years back and now lives an isolated life resigned to the incurable ailment and dire distress.
She was driven out from her inlaws' house with her two children after the HIV tests and deprived of due share of her husband’s property.
Rahima's health condition is gradually deteriorating as she cannot afford to bear the cost of medicare, aboutTk8000 a month.
"I know’my death is nearing but I am worried not for myself, rather for my children," she said in an emotion-choked voice.
Rahima still does not know how she was infected with HIVbut thinks she might have contacted it from her husband, who died about four years ago.
Abul Matin (not real name), 30, went to the Middle East three years back with the hope of bringing
financial solvency to his family.
He had to borrow money from different people on high interest rates for going abroad. But after one year of his stay in the Middle East, he tested positive for HIV and was deported to Bangladesh immediately.
"It is all the same for me to live or die as every one keeps off me ," he said sadly.
Matin said he had to take blood on medical grounds while staying abroad and that might be the source ofhisHIVinfection.
He cannot afford the cost of treatment, he said. "Some people even say I should be burnt to death."
Like Rahima and Matin, 10 HIV carriers yesterday narrated their sufferings at a pre-luncheon meeting with lawmakers at Sonargaon Hotel.
Bangladesh Parliament Members’ Group (BPMG) on prevention of 1IIV/AIDS and Human Trafficking organised the luncheon
to mark theWorld AIDS Day.
The HIV carriers said their children are also not allowed to go to school and are deprived of all kinds social contact
They appealed to the lawmakers to ensure medical support to them, which they are denied in hospitals most of the time.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Minister for Women and Children Affairs Khurshid Jahan Haque said there should be a general discussion in parliament on HTV/AIDS situation in Bangladesh.
She suggested introduction of sex education at school level so that children could know about sexually transmitted diseases.
"Our MPs and ministers are hesitant to raise the issue of sex education either in parliament or in cabinet meetings," she said.
Awami League (AL) lawmaker and a vice chairman of the BPMG Faruque Khan also said parliament
should discuss HIV/AIDS situation in the country.
GM Quader, Jatiya Party (Ershad) lawmaker and also a vice chairman of the group, urged the government to provide monthly allowance to AIDS patients for their medicare.
Deputy Speaker Akhter Hamid Siddiquc is president of the BPMG.
Yesterdy’s meeting was also addressed by AL lawmaker Abdur Razzak Khan and BNP lawmaker Zahir Uddin Swapan, both vice chairmen of the group, and Action Aid Bangladesh Country Director Nasreen Haque.