JOIN USSurviving is the dream of this positive woman
Ratnamma (35) is living with AIDS for the past 20 years at Kolar and has been instrumental in sensitising people in this backward district about the dreaded disease.
Through the Jeevan Asha Organisation she inspires many HIV/AIDS affected persons to dream to live life.
Speaking with Deccan Herald, Ratnamma told that the disease was a ‘gift’ from her husband. Though, the couple had a baby boy, the child died within days of its birth. As if this was not enough, her husband too passed away.
Turn of events in life
Shocked over turn of events, Rathnamma could not come out of it. “Doctors refused to treat my husband that’s when I realised he was infected with HIV,” she told the paper. Shunned by the community and the taboo attached with the disease, Ratnamma had lost hopes about life, till she met Dr Glory Alexander of Bangalore.
“She told me about Asha Foundation and this instilled confidence in me. It gave me a second life,” she added. She participated in AIDS related workshop at Tumkur and sensitised herself about the disease. “This boosted my morale. I decided to live with the disease and inspire others to live life, like any normal being,” she said.
In 2005, she set up a unit at the Karanjikatte, 10th cross in Kolar and dedicated herself to work for the AIDS affected persons. Initial failure in convincing the AIDS affected to attend counselling did not deter her.
She decided to personally visit the houses of affected persons and spoke to them. “This worked wonders, as many does not want to come out and be identified in the society,” she said.
Today, she is a source of inspiration to many persons living with dreaded disease. She has been supported by Karnataka Network of Positive, Karnataka Health Promotion turst and Karnataka Network for People Living With HIV in her cause.
The Asha organisation has centres in every taluks and Ratnamma visits all the taluk centers.
“I tell them, HIV has been my companion for the past two decades and I aim to live my life, everyday. We must dream to live, for, without dreams, we would be dead,” she observed.
She may be contacted on 99805-95073 or 0815653535.