HIV-positive mother has healthy children, living normal life

 HIV-positive Delma Yeki says after nine years of anti-retro-viral treatment and having healthy children, she is living a normal life.

Yeki said she contracted the virus from her boyfriend in 2006.

She was so afraid of what her family and relatives would think of her that she kept it a secret and left her home in Mendi without completing her education.

“I couldn’t accept the fact that I was diagnosed with the disease because I was not a prostitute,” she said.

“That thought forced me not to seek treatment for years.

“When I came to Port Moresby, I felt very sick. I met nursing sister Janet at Anglicare HIV clinic.

“Janet helped me check my status and get me immediately on ART medication.”

After a year, Yeki’s strength came back.

She was counselled on how to live a normal healthy life.

She got married to a healthy person who was on drugs, and had a healthy baby girl.

She is now pregnant with their second child.

Yeki was a guest during World AIDS Day in Port Moresby yesterday.

Deputy health secretary Dr Paisen Dakulala said it was time for Government to refocus on the marginalised population.

“Marginalised population are people living with HIV/AIDS, men who have sex with men, sex workers and trans-genders. Their rights need to be met to access basic services,” he said.