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Battling HIV for 17 years, Shabana pitches for better government entitlements

She saw hope when she was introduced to HIV positive people at counselling sessions by the MSACS and gradually, understood the difference between HIV and AIDS.

Shabana Patel, HIV, AIDS, Pune HIV, Pune AIDS, pune Shabana Patel, pune news, pune Shabana is the president of Network of Maharashtra by People Living with HIV/AIDS

Seventeen years ago, Shabana Patel was not allowed in the kitchen after the doctor told her family members that she was infected with HIV. Barely 16 when she was married, Shabana contracted the virus from her husband in 1998. He died within two months and family members thought she too would not survive. But she did, and on World AIDS Day (December 1), has decided to spread the message of Swacch Bharat along with 1.5 lakh HIV positive people.

Shabana, who is now the President of Network of Maharashtra by People living with HIV/AIDS (NMP+), travels to various districts across the state, educating people on what causes HIV and encouraging linkages with government social schemes and entitlements.

On top of her agenda is the demand for a free-bus travel for people on Anti Retro viral treatment (ART). “This demand has been pending for some time now. We are just asking for one-day free travel in a month . Some HIV positive people stay at a distance from the ART centres and this free bus pass will help them to regularly adhere to the treatment,” says Patel.

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Based in Ghatkopar, Shabana is amazed that she has been living with HIV for 17 years. “In 1998 it was a different story. After my husband died, my in-laws did not allow me in the kitchen. Doctors said that I would live for another two months and my parents got me home. For a 19-year-old widow it was horrifying. I could not understand what was happening,” recalls Shabana.

She saw hope when she was introduced to HIV positive people at counselling sessions by the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) and gradually, understood the difference between HIV and AIDS. “I soon started interacting with members in various HIV positive people groups and started living life with a positive approach,” she adds.

Festive offer

According to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) estimates, there are 2.39 million people living with HIV/AIDS, out of which, total positive cases constitute 49 per cent women. As part of the Vihaan care and support programme run in Maharashtra and Goa for people living with HIV, Patel, along with others infected with HIV, have been creating awareness about early detection and treatment of cervical cancer in HIV positive women and demanding a free-bus travel for people on Anti Retro viral treatment (ART).

Shabana, who is also pushing the case of HIV positive people not getting entitlements under the government scheme Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana, said it needs to be upgraded. The scheme provides a paltry sum of Rs 600 if the HIV person has an annual income of less than Rs 20,000. This needs to be upgraded, she said, adding, “There are 15,000 HIV positive people who have applied for benefits under the scheme but are still waiting for it.”

First uploaded on: 01-12-2015 at 01:01 IST
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