If I kept it to myself - World YWCA

If I kept it to myself
God had prepared a loving church that supported
my family and me from the moment they knew
about my HIV status. My dear brothers and
sisters pray for me every week, asking God that
I finally be healed. They support me during my
trips to workshops and lectures by praying and
sustaining my family with words of hope. This
church that I love is a gift from God.
In September 2002, I was invited to a conference
on HIV and AIDS in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There
I met Leah Mutala, an African woman working as
a volunteer taking care of children orphaned by
AIDS. She taught me that God takes care of the
widowed and orphaned.
Together with our male counterparts, we began
the Bolivian network of PLWHA (REDBOL) in
2002. I am also a member of the International
Community of Women living with HIV and AIDS
(ICW) Bolivia. Since I completed my Bachelor’s
degree, I have been writing publications and
giving lectures on gender issues and the plight of
PLWHA. I also advocate and facilitate workshops
on HIV and AIDS as a consultant and researcher.
The terrible injustices affecting PLWHA in my
country, especially against women, encouraged
me to get involved. The most important fight
I have committed to is universal access to
Antiretroviral treatment (ARV). Medication is
not readily available in Bolivia. The other fight I
started was for gender equality in HIV and AIDS
leadership, particularly calling for the support and
involvement of women living with HIV and AIDS
in decisions that affect their lives.
Through REDBOL, we brought a case to court
against the Bolivian State in the Inter-American
Court of Human Rights asking for ARVs for 52
10
PLWHA who signed a petition. At the time, the
Ministry of Health decided who would be involved
with the distribution of ARVs. They did not have
any PLWHA on their committee, which led to
secrecy and bias in the selection of candidates.
They now have four PLWHA on their committee
of 30. Since then many more PLWHA have joined
the campaign for access to ARVs.
I was invited to give a speech at the closing
ceremony of the 2004 International AIDS
Conference in Bangkok. There, I had the
opportunity to challenge my fellow delegates; I
said we would not relax until there is universal
access to ARVs. I talked about the reality in
my country and the gender inequality that is
fuelling the HIV pandemic. I stressed that we
should address gender inequality and ensure the
universal access to education for girls.
In Latin America, the majority of PLWHA are
men who have sex with men. At the beginning
of my campaign it was very difficult to break
the barriers put up by men in power and to
demand a space for women. Some leaders were
determined to put up obstacles to our attempts
to include HIV positive women in decision
and policy making. With the help of important
networks like ICW, we finally managed to get
women involved at all levels. Today there are
visible changes regarding PLWHA. There are
more women involved in leadership and this
makes a difference since women know best
the needs of other women. This fight is for the
inclusion of HIV positive women, not only in
the community but also in government. Finding
people who specialise in women and AIDS and
in issues affecting HIV positive women is our
most difficult goal.