Despite facing the threat of failing health and death, many HIV-positive patients are proving they can still lead full lives, with happy marriages and social participation.

"My life is full of hope," says Porn [not her real name], a happily married HIV-positive person.

This pretty woman in her 30s caught the virus from her former husband 13 years ago, at a time when society harboured strong prejudice against HIV-positive people. "It was very depressing in the beginning. Back then, my neighbours were reluctant to even walk past my house. I felt so bad. I even thought about committing suicide," Porn recalled.

However, she finally got over the negative feelings with the love and support of her parents.

"Also, my children needed me. They are not infected," she says.

Her optimism grew even stronger when she heard that medicines could enable HIV-positive people to live long, normal lives.

By going to relevant agencies for information and medication, Porn has become knowledgeable enough to help other HIV patients.

She now works at the Ban Pa Daed health station, where HIV-positive people can come for help.

"We have been campaigning for Aids prevention in our village. We also work with other villages and local administrative bodies," Porn says.

She married her new love, another HIV-positive patient, following the death of her first husband.

"We are living together happily," she says.

Porn's is not a unique case - her HIV-positive friend "Nong" also enjoys a normal, happy life in a nearby village.

"I run a fruit stall and my stall is doing fine," Nong says.

She says the villagers do not have any qualms about buying fruit from her stall and welcome her as a part of their community.

Nong found out that she had caught the HIV virus when she went to a hospital to give birth to her son in 1995.

"I tried to keep mum about this fact because I was afraid my community would turn their back on me. However, when my husband died three years later, everyone knew what had happened," she says.

After her secret was exposed, Nong decided to seek help and looked to Porn.

"She happened to be an old friend. I have also met a lot of other HIV-positive people," the 34-year-old woman says.

Like Porn, Nong has married an HIV-positive man. "We take good care of each other," she says.

Her child by her former husband died in 2001.

Nong received funds to start her fruit stall from a project initiated by Pfizer Thailand Foundation and Population and Community Development Association (PDA).

Not only that, she has also invested in a frog farm, a chilli farm and a junk business with two loans of Bt15,000 each that she received from the "Pfizer-PDA Positive Partnership Project (PPPP): Micro-credit loans for people living with and affected by HIV/Aids".

Pfizer Thailand Foundation executive Anutra Sinchaipanich says the foundation and Pfizer Inc have given U$300,000 (Bt11 million) to fund PPPP between 2003 and 2006.

"We will give $100,000 to PPPP next year. PPPP grants loans to allow HIV/Aids patients to earn a living. With jobs, they can take care of themselves and their families," she says.

HIV-positive people have to apply for PPPP loans together with an uninfected person.

Anutra says PPPP has already granted loans to 395 such pairs. The amount loaned has already passed Bt9 million and the repayment rate is 83.88 per cent.

Nong says her family is now financially stable. Enjoying a good life herself, she has reached out to help other HIV-positive people improve theirs.

"We have founded a group to take care of people living with HIV/Aids. This group coordinates closely with government agencies and non-governmental organisations," she says.

She has also set up a savings group that offers soft loans to HIV-positive people, who would usually find it hard to get loans elsewhere.

Nong and her husband have also installed a condom vending machine in their community, hoping to help prevent the spread of HIV.

"The vending machine offers two condoms at Bt5 and sells about 38 condoms a week," she says.

Another HIV patient, Kes, says she too caught the virus from her husband, and they were still living together happily.

"At first, I was mad at him. His health deteriorated quickly. He refused to see doctors and tried to kill himself. Finally, I tried to help both of us. We are taking medicines now and are doing fine," the 36-year-old says.

Kes says she spoke to her parents frankly about being infected and they did not show any repulsion.

The couple's son has not been infected.

"Today, my community hardly counts being HIV-positive as a stigma. My family has jobs, hope and happiness," Kes says.

Despite running up some debts from their ginger farm, Kes remains optimistic. She and her husband work hard at tending to the ginger farm, a pig farm, paddy fields and selling ginseng.

"We will clear our debts and live sufficiently," she says.

She also helps other HIV/Aids patients by making dolls and bookmarks for sale to raise funds.

Chiang Rai's deputy public health chief, Dr Surin Summanapun says the number of new HIV infections in his province had dropped to about 1,000 cases this year.

"In this province, the risk groups are teenagers, conscripts, blood donors and blood receivers," he says.

To offer assistance, contact the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) via pda@pda.or.th

Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

Chiang Rai