1. Positive Voices
Oral testimonies to amplify voices of women
affected by and living with HIV and AIDS in South Asia
Background
The experience of being a woman living with HIV and AIDS is
best told by a woman living with HIV herself, in her own words.
Panos South Asia (Pakistan) with support from the Panos
London Oral Testimony (OT) Programme trained 23 women
from Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan (16 of whom are HIV+) to
record personal narratives of 83 women living with HIV and
AIDS under its initiative “Positive Voices”.
What we learned about women’s lives How has Positive Voices benefitted women?
In all the three countries women living with HIV and AIDS: Some narrators received economic support. A OT
interviewer in Pakistan received a loan from the
Are more vulnerable to HIV as wives of migrant workers, community’s Social Welfare Board, to enable her
injecting drug users and as migrant workers themselves. husband to re-establish his business.
“I was infected just being at home.” Both interviewers and narrators found the experience of
- Princy, Sri Lanka narrating their own stories cathartic and empowering.
Face economic hardships. Many are disinherited from the “Sharing our stories is a way of getting justice”,
husband’s property. - Interviewer, India
“I was lucky when my husband was alive. “I can’t talk to anyone…but here I have been able to
This life is like a beggar’s life.” talk about my worries.”
- Zakia, Pakistan - Interviewer, Pakistan
Face stigma and discrimination
Next Steps
“The hospital refused to admit me when
I went to deliver the baby.” Dissemination of testimonies through mass media
- Kalpana, India (TV/radio dramas and film) for greater awareness of
issues faced by women living with HIV.
Are blamed for the spread of the virus even if they have
acquired it from their husbands. Recording oral testimonies of women in villages to
amplify voices of marginalised rural women.
“So far, nobody in our family knows about this illness.
If they know, they will blame me.” “I am not the face of HIV. Go to the villages if you
- Khairunissa, Pakistan want to see what HIV is.”
- Ritu Devi, Bihar
Do not access treatment centers either because they
are unaware of services or do not have the money for
travelling to the center.
“I have to go for antiretrovirals once in 15 days.
Money is a big problem. The fare has to be paid.
There are two more tests, they will cost money.”
- Chinta Kunwar, India
Face stress or go into depression or are worried about their
future.
“There were innumerable times I felt like taking poison.” www.panosaids.org
- Rupawathi, Sri Lanka
For details contact:
Are insecure, lonely and long for companionship 20, Route de Freres, Petion-Ville, B.P. 1595
HT-6110, Port–au–Prince, Haiti
“I can’t go out on my own. [My] husband has died,
anushree@panosaids.org
I’ve died from that day.” sahar@panossouthasia.org
- Zakia, Pakistan
siobhan.warrington@panos.org.uk
MOPE0653 Monday 19 July, 2010
Where: Poster Exhibition Area, When: 12.30 - 14.30 Hrs
![Positive Voices
Oral testimonies to amplify voices of women
affected by and living with HIV and AIDS in South Asia
Background
The experience of being a woman living with HIV and AIDS is
best told by a woman living with HIV herself, in her own words.
Panos South Asia (Pakistan) with support from the Panos
London Oral Testimony (OT) Programme trained 23 women
from Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan (16 of whom are HIV+) to
record personal narratives of 83 women living with HIV and
AIDS under its initiative “Positive Voices”.
What we learned about women’s lives How has Positive Voices benefitted women?
In all the three countries women living with HIV and AIDS: Some narrators received economic support. A OT
interviewer in Pakistan received a loan from the
Are more vulnerable to HIV as wives of migrant workers, community’s Social Welfare Board, to enable her
injecting drug users and as migrant workers themselves. husband to re-establish his business.
“I was infected just being at home.” Both interviewers and narrators found the experience of
- Princy, Sri Lanka narrating their own stories cathartic and empowering.
Face economic hardships. Many are disinherited from the “Sharing our stories is a way of getting justice”,
husband’s property. - Interviewer, India
“I was lucky when my husband was alive. “I can’t talk to anyone…but here I have been able to
This life is like a beggar’s life.” talk about my worries.”
- Zakia, Pakistan - Interviewer, Pakistan
Face stigma and discrimination
Next Steps
“The hospital refused to admit me when
I went to deliver the baby.” Dissemination of testimonies through mass media
- Kalpana, India (TV/radio dramas and film) for greater awareness of
issues faced by women living with HIV.
Are blamed for the spread of the virus even if they have
acquired it from their husbands. Recording oral testimonies of women in villages to
amplify voices of marginalised rural women.
“So far, nobody in our family knows about this illness.
If they know, they will blame me.” “I am not the face of HIV. Go to the villages if you
- Khairunissa, Pakistan want to see what HIV is.”
- Ritu Devi, Bihar
Do not access treatment centers either because they
are unaware of services or do not have the money for
travelling to the center.
“I have to go for antiretrovirals once in 15 days.
Money is a big problem. The fare has to be paid.
There are two more tests, they will cost money.”
- Chinta Kunwar, India
Face stress or go into depression or are worried about their
future.
“There were innumerable times I felt like taking poison.” www.panosaids.org
- Rupawathi, Sri Lanka
For details contact:
Are insecure, lonely and long for companionship 20, Route de Freres, Petion-Ville, B.P. 1595
HT-6110, Port–au–Prince, Haiti
“I can’t go out on my own. [My] husband has died,
anushree@panosaids.org
I’ve died from that day.” sahar@panossouthasia.org
- Zakia, Pakistan
siobhan.warrington@panos.org.uk
MOPE0653 Monday 19 July, 2010
Where: Poster Exhibition Area, When: 12.30 - 14.30 Hrs](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/poster02-100721023752-phpapp01/85/Positive-Voices-1-320.jpg)
