Abused, scorned and made to sleep in dogs' bed

Discrimination still a problem for people living with HIV

BY PATRICIA WATSON

Monday, April 05, 2010

ALMOST 30 years since the first case of HIV was diagnosed in Jamaica, people living with HIV continue to be discriminated against due to their illness. Some like Andrea are even emotionally abused by family and people who should know better.

Thirty-four-year-old Andrea learnt she had contracted HIV when she was 21 years and for much of that time she has had to battle discrimination.

"I don't have a good educational background. I did not go to high school and I am just learning to read. All I know to do is to wash, cook and clean," Andrea explained.

"Shortly after I got infected, I got a work with a lady. At first I did not tell her I was HIV-positive, but after a few weeks I realised the children were asthmatic and since I didn't know much about the disease I decided to tell her so she could protect the kids. She told me she couldn't keep me.

"I didn't have anywhere to go and so I ended up living for a while with my mother's sister. That was when it all started. I was not allowed to eat from the same plates. I ate from plastic plates and used plastic fork and I had to use different bath to bathe," she reminisced.

Andrea explained that the treatment from her own family had a negative impact on her emotionally and she felt like she was nobody. She was admitted to hospital frequently and on one of the visits she said an adherence counsellor referred her to the Jamaica Network of Seropositives (JN+) where she received support.

She was able to land another job as a household helper with a civil servant and her family in 2000. She would remain in this job up to January 2010 when she said she could no longer withstand the abuse meted out to her.

"I didn't hide my status from them. I told them a week after I started working with them. The lady took me off the bed and told me I would have to sleep on the floor. I was not allowed to eat with the family and I was only allowed to shower after everyone had showered, which could be as late as 11:00 pm. Once I showered I had to clean the bathroom with disinfectant," she explained.

"I couldn't wash my clothes in the same pan that I used to wash the family's clothes in. I had to use a different one."

This continued for the almost 10 years that she worked with family.

Asked why she remained with the family for so long, Andrea explained that she had nowhere to live and her opportunities of getting a job were slim due to her HIV status and her educational background.

Above all, she noted that for all the years she worked with the family, she was never paid.

"Whenever I asked for any money I was told that I was not doing them any favours," she said. "The lady told me that her family was the one doing me a favour. She said she is not obligated to me. She is obligated to her children. She provides food for me to eat and a roof over my head.

"I left in January because I got the opportunity to go back to school and she would not give me the time to go back. She said she didn't give me AIDS, so I mustn't behave like is she give me and expect her to feed and shelter me for nothing in return.

"I wanted better for myself and so I decided that I would leave. I am now with another family who allows me to sleep in the bed that the dogs used to sleep in. It is uncomfortable, but I am hoping for better. I eat at somebody else's house. Sometimes I have to stop by my mother's house to sleep without the dog hair, but my mother has it hard too, so I don't want to pressure her.

"It is very hard. Sometimes it is too much for me. I need somewhere to live because I don't intend to stop going to school. With the education, I can better myself and one day have my own house and a good job where nobody will treat me differently. I just need to get my life in order, finish school and get a good job," Andrea stated.

A 2008 Knowledge Attitude Practice and Behaviour Survey showed that Jamaicans are increasingly displaying more acceptance of people living with AIDS. More than 80 per cent said they were willing to care for an infected relative and just over 76 per cent supported having an infected female teacher for their children once she was not ill. A total of 58.2 per cent were also supportive of a family member disclosing their HIV-positive status.

Generally, however, the survey found that Jamaicans would not buy fresh vegetables from an HIV-positive vendor, with less than a quarter (23.5 per cent) saying they would buy.

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COMMENTS (9)

Nicola Phillips
4/5/2010

We are not punished for sins ,but punished by our sins.God is only good,it's his nature to only do good things.So, when we are talkng about being punished ,it's what we put out there and then the repercussions are what we get back.God allows i,t but we are the ones that cause our tribulations.Instead of casting stones,we need to look at our selfs and gain some enlightenment, which comes from eradicating ignorance.You can be baptized,and go to church,but if you aren't feeding your mind,you are dead.Alot of so called Christins are dead just like the depraved individuals ,who are creating a miasmic atmosphere in this country

Delroy Stephenson
4/5/2010

It is quite possible that this girl might have been misdiagnosed.
After ten years without medications, good food and medical treatment; by now she should have full blown AIDS. Maybe she should even be already dead.

Delroy Stephenson
4/5/2010

Here is a disease that was created by accident. I swear that if I was one of those multimillionaires I would give it all to help to find a cure. People should not have to go through the things this girl have been subjected to.
That family that had her working for 10 years without pay, should be sent to prison. Please publish their names so the rest of us can castigate them.

Winston G
4/5/2010

I treat every report with a level of skepticism. This is HER side of the story. I am not sayin she is lying, but I am prepared to give others the BENEFIT of a doubt. Human beings have a tendency to not be totally honest when reporting a situation, they tend to report in a way to gain sympathy on their side. Again, I am NOT saying she is lying, bur FAIRNESS demands that the employers be given the benefit of a doubt.

Karen Lee
4/5/2010

SHE CAN SUE FOR THAT MONEY...TEN YEARS WITHOUT PAY IS MODERN DAY SLAVERY...FOR REAL..THIS WOMAN IS ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES AND I GIVE HER CREDIT BECAUSE SOME OF US WOULD HAVE ENDED IT...

Steve Allen
4/5/2010

I don`t think we should over look this lady or any other Jamaican who has contracted this disease and in need of help.
The Jamaican government must must set up an agency to help out any Jamaican with HIV who is need of help and cannot afford to take care of him or her self.
I hope the Jamaican government does not over look this
issue..

real southy
4/5/2010

the problem with Jamaica is the illeteracy and ignorance at all levels of the society,the belief in obeah and the reliance on hear say. notice the extradition impasse,everytime something happens like a visa is teken away ,the media,some people who comment,the citizens all say its because of the Dudus thing even though they have no proof. thats why people act like that towards HIV infected persons because there is no reading just gossip.the only book they look in is the bible

mekhi x
4/5/2010

I hope she made a report and the police investigates, arrest and charge these people...what her employer did to her for ten years is tantamount to slavery, a criminal act under jamaican law.

Brooklyn Jamaican
4/5/2010

For those who are vex when I commented about the treatment of the Haitians. THe truth is Jamaica's problems are not as a result of marauding gunmen, shottas DJ's or even politicians. The problems are caused by people like those who pretend to be civil but are wicked and ruthless to those in unfortunate situations.
That is why Armadale happened, Most, yes most so called well thinking Jamaicans are pious yet callous at the same time. Even worse than this woman's employer are guests to to the house who saw and did nothing, and her children who most likely may be released on society with an exponentially more wicked approach to the less fortunate.

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Abused, scorned and made to sleep in dogs' bed