Leela, who is HIV positive, gave birth to her son 4 years ago at her home in Chamrajnagar when her husband abandoned her after he got to know of her condition.
For Leela, her son is her world. Leela, who is HIV positive, gave birth to her son four years ago at her home in Chamrajnagar when her husband abandoned her after he got to know of her condition.
However, she did not lose hope; instead, she went to a doctor and ensured that her disease did not affect her child. Today, her son Priyanshu goes to school, and Leela is doing all she can to ensure that he is not deprived of an education and livelihood.
“About four years ago, when I got pregnant, I went to the doctor for a regular check-up. This is when I realised that I was HIV positive. I came home and confronted my husband and he didn’t respond. He also refused to get tested as the doctor had asked me to get him to the hospital,” said Leela.
Leela suspected that her husband had an affair with another woman in the neighbouring village. But she never confronted him out of the fear that he would abuse her.
“Two days later, when I woke up in the morning, my husband had
packed to leave. He did not tell me where he was going and when he would return. When I asked, he abused me and left. He has not returned till date,” she said.Soon after the incident, on the advice of her doctor, Leela came to Bangalore and visited Victoria Hospital, where she was given treatment so that here child does not contract the virus.
“Since I was still have two months into pregnancy, the doctor told me that the treatment would ensure that my child doesn’t get my disease,” she said.
In the meantime, she approached Sumanahalli Community Care Centre, a rehabilitation centre for destitute and HIV-positive women.
“Once my treatment at Victoria Hospital ended, I went back to my village near Chamrajanagar and gave birth to my child. After that, they started the standard anti-retroviral therapy,” she said.
“When her blood count went below 100, we had to start ART treatment. We observed that she was not allergic to the medicine and continued the treatment. We also trained her in garment stitching and helped her get employment at a garment factory,” said an official from the Sumanahalli Community Care Centre.
Now, all that Leela wants is time till her son gets educated and can manage life on his own.
“I am willing to do anything to earn money to make my son a doctor. A doctor, who can treat people like me and give hope to them. I know that this is not an easy endeavour. But as long as I live, I will strive towards this goal. I won’t let him be like his father,” she said.
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