Even today, HIV is not something we discuss out of choice. But in an Indian village, women are doing something incredible only because they want to save their children and themselves of a deadly disease.
Two wives in Udaisarai village of Uttar Pradesh asked their husbands to get a HIV test done before they entered home. The husbands who were home for Diwali and work in cities like Mumbai and Delhi initially refused, but later agreed on insistence from other family members. In fact other women in the village also followed suit and asked their husbands for medical certification.
Wondering why women living in a small village wanted such a medical certificate? It’s because the people of Udaisarai went through a medical screening around 10 years ago and the results of the blood tests in the camp revealed that most men were carrying the deadly HIV virus.
Most men from the village work in cities and around 200 homes have lost as many as 44 people in the past decade.
With such bleak circumstances women in the village have decided to take a strong step by making their husbands take the test to be sure, and also opt for safe sex options. You will be surprised to know that they are being supported by their mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Gyan Swaroopa, an anganwadi worker who has been instrumental in spreading awareness among the village folk, is trying hard to help them fight the disease and live a healthy life.
This step is actually a great one that will help save many families from the trauma that comes along with the disease.
