Micah Case Studies

HIV and Aids: India

Selvi contracted HIV and Aids from her husband and is now terminally ill. She has two children, an eight-year old boy and a six-year-old girl. In early 2004, Selvi gave birth to a baby boy who died of malnutrition when just four months old. Her husband is a daily wage labourer and her son runs errands for a teashop. Without any means for livelihood, Selvi has now rented out her shanty house, a lean-to on the pavement (pictured), for 150 Rupees (US$3.40) per month and they now sleep in the open, although they are allowed ‘home’ to cook and to store their belongings. Her husband is not taking care of her now. He is not bothered about her deteriorating health. She doesn’t receive any monetary support from him.

Not long after this photograph was taken, Selvi developed a tumour in her neck and was admitted to a hospital 30kms away. Her husband didn’t take her to the hospital. She went there alone.

Selvi died of AIDS on June 1 2006. Mohan, her husband, also has the virus. Although he has access to antiretrovirals, he is unable to take them as he is never sure when he is next going to be able to feed himself and his two children.