AIDS victim buried alive in Papua New Guinea

Full blown AIDS patient 

Veronica, a full-blown AIDS patient, was single and 26 years old when she was diagnosed. She was the first of five children, with her second sister married to a man far away, leaving the three boys in primary school. Veronica had only completed primary education, as her parents were subsistence farmers who could not afford to support her further studies. They were unable to find other opportunities for tertiary education and thus, she was forced to return to the village. 

In the hope of finding opportunities, Veronica migrated to the town. However, living in the city was difficult, and she had to put her life at risk by relying on an uncaring man, who gave her HIV through unprotected sex. After her HIV developed into AIDS, she was forced to go back home to be cared for by her parents. Her health continued to deteriorate until she had to seek medical care at the nearest health centre, where she was diagnosed with AIDS.

At that time, treatment was limited, and so she was taken back home, where news of her condition spread rapidly. The fear of the new infection drowned the minds and hearts of the community, as the social values were quickly replaced by panic. Despite generations of rich cultural and social values, Veronica witnessed firsthand how poorly her community treated people living with HIV/AIDS.

She needed constant support, but no one, including her parents, was there for her. She lived alone in a family home, without the company of relatives, as nobody wanted to risk contracting the infection. The family eventually moved her from the village hamlet to a garden house, a few kilometres from the village, in fear of community pressure.

The community had rejected Veronica, and the family feared that they would lose their standing in society. As a result, they moved her out of the garden and constructed a new home in the bush, where they left her alone. Her physical body, mind, heart, and strength slowly deteriorated, and she was left uncared for. In the end, she was laid to rest in a bare grave, without any care or love.

The treatment of AIDS patients in Papua New Guinea has since improved, with communities now accepting HIV positive people and providing care and support. Medical professionals are treating patients with dignity and pride, while the private sector is coming out publicly to fight stigma and support those with HIV. Ultimately, love heals HIV/AIDS, with increased human love healing the land.