UNICEF trip to Bolivia 2

Passing through one small bedroom, the size of a closet, I noticed an empty straw bassinet abandoned in the corner. Ari caught my glance and explained, “ The baby just died at one month of HIV related causes.” He opened up an area curtained off from the wooden hallway, facing the garden. Along a red brick wall, many snapshots of women were taped side-by-side, some held children, some stood with family members, some were alone. The corners on many of the photos were starting to curl up. Ari explained that each of these women had passed away and this was a private place to honor and pray for them. Low stools lined the edge of the opposite wall for visitors to sit and remember. It was a simple shrine, but you could feel it was a sacred spot.

As we said our goodbyes, we asked Ari if funds still come from his parish in Italy. With a mischievous smile he responded, “Yes, along with the capellini and tortellini.”

At Vivo en Positivo, a center for women and children living with HIV/AIDS, we stayed longer to sit quietly with Carmen. She rocked her newborn Bianca wrapped in a sling across her chest and told her story through tears. She supports her family by selling second hand clothes in the streets with her seventeen-year-old daughter, making less than thirty dollars a month. She does not know if her baby has HIV and will have to wait an agonizing few more months to find out. She talked about the discrimination she has endured in the streets and the struggle to support her children. Her daughter Selene sat stoically beside her, touching her mothers arm in support when the tears became too much for her to speak. I felt the disease also robbed this young girl, because even though she was HIV negative, she carried the burden for her mother. Each of us gave whatever little money we had and their shock was apparent. They both grasped us in their arms, crying silently in gratitude. Her daughter, Selene, could now return to her studies and they would have enough food, for a while.

We learned that those infected with HIV are mostly young women and they are infected during their first sexual encounter. There are 4000 cases registered but they believe the number could be as high as 10,000. The discrimination against those affected is palpable, often affecting being hired for work. Many men live with the illusion that the disease is the women’s fault and their response is to inflict more violence. We were told there was only one pediatrician in the town who would treat children with HIV, and only one gynecologist who would treat the women.

(My series concludes next time with our Millennium Goals)

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