Nireekshana ACET India , in their latest report from southern India, share the story of  'Sheela', a young mum with a tragic past, a supportive family and a hopeful future.  Her story is told in her own words.

“I am one among the three daughters. Two of my elder sisters got married and I was studying in 9th standard. One day my mother told me that a boy was coming to see me for marriage. I thought it was a casual marriage visit but in the end everything was fixed as the boy’s family was very happy about me. My mother convinced me to get married and I got married to this person who was in his 30’s. We were happy for six months but I developed some infection. I was worried and came back to my mother who was very unhappy about the situation. Those days I was too young to know the details of married life. Later I came to know that I was pregnant and was also suffering with a STD (sexually transmitted disease). After I gave birth to a son at my mother's house and we informed my in-laws about the delivery. They told me that my husband had left the house and it is good for me to stay away from him. My son suffered often with cold and fever. During the treatment of my son my husband came to me and asked me to come with him. But my mother stood against him and told me to divorce him. We went to the police to file a case against him but later we came to know that he was affected with AIDS and in due course he died. My family stood with me and got me and my son tested for HIV and both of us turned positive. I came to know about Nireekshana and was counselled there I wrote my Secondary School examination. I passed my examination. Now I am taking advice. During the course of time I came to know how one gets HIV-AIDS and medicine regularly from Nireekshana clinic. Now we are happy and my son who used to be often ill is healthy today and will soon be admitted in to school. We are happy to receive the medicine and support from the clinic’

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