This article reinforces a point I've made several times in the past:
the HIV myth is kept alive because everyone benefits from it.  Even
the 'infected.'

Here we have a story about desperately poor women who *want* an HIV+
diagnosis because its a gateway to free medical care, food and
education for them and their family.

And why shouldn't they want HIV?  Worst case scenario is that HIV sits
in your body for between ten and fifteen years without producing any
symptoms.

The image we have of HIV, such as that of Tom Hanks in the film
Philadelphia, isn't the same as modern day HIV.  What's depicted in
that film isn't what being HIV+ is like.

Perhaps I'd be willing to accept the HIV lie if my health care and
income depended on it.  Fortunately they don't, so I don't have to
sell myself to the HIVAIDS machine.

<http://thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa3qzpca4Ta1ua.axama
l&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080504>:

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Many women of remote villages of Achham district want organisations
concerned to declare them HIV-infected. Reason: These poor souls are
lured by goodies offered to real HIV victims.

According to Achham district public health office (DPHO), Achham has
370 HIV-infected persons, the highest number of HIV-infected persons
in a district.

With their husbands in India to make money, most of the women of
Achham district find it difficult to eke out a living for themselves
and dependents. To combat poverty, they have begun appealing to
organisations working for the welfare of HIV-infected to declare them
HIV-infected.

“My husband has gone abroad to earn money. How would I feed my
children or send them to school? Had I been an HIV victim,
organisations would have provided for our food and children’s
education,” Saraswati Pariwar of Marku VDC-6 of Achham said.

Gaumati Kunwar of Chandi VDC said she came to Safebagar thinking she
was infected with HIV because her husband has been bedridden for quite
some time. “My husband used to work in Mumbai. We are having a tough
time ever since he fell ill. Nobody cares for us. It would be better
if I were HIV-infected. At least I would get support from
organisations.”

Counsellor Durga Subedi of Hasti AIDS, an organisation working for HIV
victims, said many women came to the organisation, pleading that they
be declared HIV-infected. “We checked all of them, but only a few were
found to be infected with HIV,” said Subedi. Shashikala Koirala of
Hasti AIDS said they were surprised to hear the women say they wanted
to be declared HIV-infected.

President of Sneha Nepal (Achham) and vice-president of HIV AIDS
Rastriya Mahasangh Mathura Kunwar said they had been providing shelter
and medicare to HIV-infected women. “Many helpless women and widows
also come here hoping to get a certificate that recognises them as
HIV-infected, “ Kunwar said.

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