Shanty had been living away from family on her own not long after she left high school. She had dropped out of studies but was smart enough to get by finding work. She had more than one steady relationship and thought very little of using protection against STIs or HIV.

In early 2005 she got pregnant and after the birth of her daughter started thinking more about her future. It was about this time that she began to notice the many HIV campaigns and warnings on Sik AIDS. She got in touch with a friend who worked with a Private Hospital and asked him about HIV and how to know if she was infection. Her health worker friend came to her office and took a blood sample from her and took it away to his lab for testing. Shanty was frantic for a week as she waited for her result. Her friend called after a week and told her of her result over the telephone. He told her she was HIV negative. At no point in this entire episode was Shanty ever told of her right to undergo pre and post counselling for the HIV blood test that had just been conducted on her.
After this event Shanty decided that she needed to get her life together and to ensure she remained negative. She found a job with a reputable firm that has a strong HIV Workplace Policy. She met a wonderful young man and now enjoys a steady relationship with him. They married recently and moved in together. She got pregnant and went for ante-natal clinic at the same Private Hospital where her medical friend works. At the ANC clinic she noticed after her blood was taken, that she was tested for HIV among the other tests that were usually done.
The doctor simply read her all of her test results ‘as a matter of fact’ - including her HIV test results in his consulting room. This time she was surprised, as she had learned about counselling and testing processes through her workplace policy and program*. She thought she would have had pre and post test counselling. Shanty did not receive any pre and post counselling and is concerned about how the results are stored and shared at the clinic
She considers herself lucky that her second test on HIV continues to show she is negative and is determined to stay that way by discussing VCT with her new partner. She thinks she may get him to go if they go together. She is reluctant to talk to him now about use of condoms but will definitely discuss with him after her delivery.

*The company was one of BAHA’s first members and this story was made possible because the story teller was concerned that private doctors don’t all seem to know about the VCT guidelines created by the HAMP Act. Please contact BAHA if you would like a copy of the VCT guidelines or the HAMP Act User guide

Find a friend to go with. A true story from a young working women in Port Moresby, PNG

In late November 2008, I went on a work related trip to Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province, with my manager and mentor. We were to spend only one and a half days working. Once we arrived got our job done and decided to visit the Rabiamul VCT Clinic.
I had always dreaded the thought of getting a test in Port Moresby but somehow when my manager suggests we will return tomorrow at Rabiamul for a test I instantly agreed. It felt as though I had been waiting for someone I spend so much time with to say “Let’s both go together and have an HIV Test”.
After agreeing to that I expected my thoughts and feelings to start heading to a state of panic. Because that is what I normally experience when I am about to hear some news or sit before something serious. Surprisingly I did not feel any of that at all. In fact my whole body, mind and soul was so calm and at ease with what I was about to go through for the first time in my life that I was convinced there was really nothing to be afraid of. My fear was how I would react when the result was given to me.
The time had finally come the next day when we both were to be tested. The atmosphere was so heart warming and the environment was breath taking. The VCT clinic was hygienically clean but did not seem to look like a hospital which eased a little bit of tension of being in a clinical setting.
Between the both of us I decided to get tested first. The pre counselling was excellent coming from a rural clinic, simple but informative. After my results were given to me, I was glad to know my status but most importantly relieved to walk through the whole process of voluntary counselling and testing. As result I couldn’t wait to tell my colleagues of the experience once I returned to work.
I can know encourage my friends and others to visit a VCT clinic and proudly say that I did the same and so should they to get that load of being afraid off their chest. Yes, I can even talk to my uncles about going! I get condoms for them, so why can’t I do the next important part of the job!

A little family in Moresby takes the workplace lesson on VCT home.

Recently a young man and his family, whom I have known for a number of years, were struggling with some domestic and health issues. The father of this small family has been a good friend from when we previously worked together. Despite our language difficulties (he only spoke tok plais) we soon became good friends as he helped me clean out and set up my office which was to be my workplace for the next two years.
Over time I learnt more of his story and about his family. As is the case with many people from the remote villages he had not had the opportunity to go to school and was essentially illiterate and his young wife was in the same situation. She was very shy and even though she came to the office occasionally she would rarely speak.
Their two young ones (now three with the recent arrival of a namesake) had a number of health issues as did Mum and Dad and after a few protracted discussions with the help of another national work colleague I found out that their diet was very poor and they were unable to access health care. What money they had was spent on the wrong kind of foods and their health was suffering as a result.
As we had developed the habit of talking each morning as he went about his duties I made some suggestions about his family’s health and also about caring for the children as they were essentially without the support of the older members of their family who had remained back in the village. Soon enough I had become Bubu and the little ones would get excited when they were brought to the office with their Mum as there were always treats in the desk drawer for them.
Time passed and as happens with the transient nature of advisors working in Port Moresby it was my time to leave, but not before the young father and I had identified a safe place for him and his family to live. They had previously moved from place to place staying with wantoks who would take them in for a few days at a time. With a permanent house secured the family were settled and I left feeling a little happier that their life might have a bit more stability.
I recently returned after a year away to take up another advisor position and quite by chance encountered my old friend. Very soon I had met up with the expanded family and we had a great chat about the new baby born at Christmas, and the eldest son making it to pre-school every day.
I was concerned however that the baby and Mum did not seem well, and the middle child was regularly sick and the next thing was the eldest boy was confirmed as having TB. My friend seemed healthy enough, but overall the family’s poor health caused me to worry. I realized that I would have to call upon my good relationship with my friend to suggest to him that he and his wife should go for a HIV test to check whether the cause of their poor health might be related to the virus.
My friend understood that the reason I suggested he go for testing was that I was concerned not only for his health, but also his children. If he or his wife were HIV+ then there was a chance that the children may have a problem as well. I told him that if the test was positive that it was not a disaster, but that there were very successful treatments that were provided for free and they would help keep him and his family healthy for many years ahead. As we talked I emphasized it was very important that he and his wife must go together for testing to support each other whatever the outcome. As a trusted friend he took my advice and he promised me they would go the next day and has the test done.
Within 48 hours I had my friend on the phone telling me very happily that both he and his wife where HIV negative and he was assured by the staff at the testing centre that his children would not have any problems. My friend has now taken his children for a full health check to sort out their other issues and will be talking to Susu Mama’s to get some help for his young wife in the care of their youngest child.
Whilst having the test does not solve all the challenges they have in their tough life it does take away that worry and helps them move ahead with a focus on improving their health and staying strong into the future. A brave step for all concerned.
Patricia Dear – ASF HR Advisor