Marriage is a sacred relationship between a man and a woman, where both parties vow to spend their lives only with each other forever. Sadly, not every couple have been able to fulfil this lifelong promise.
A woman was left to grapple with the emotional and physical consequences of her husband’s infidelity after she was diagnosed with the deadly and incurable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
M’sian woman suffers from HIV due to husband’s marital affairs
Speaking to the media during a visit by the president of the Malaysian Cancer Survivors Society (CSM), who stopped by to hand her financial assistance, the 42-year-old woman said she was infected with HIV 18 years ago after her second child was born.
She recounted the time when she first came to know of her diagnosis, which left her understandably shellshocked.
“While I was still breastfeeding my youngest child, I underwent a health check-up and was diagnosed with HIV. The news left me utterly stunned.
‘During the first five years after receiving the diagnosis, I fell into deep depression. I’m still receiving follow-up treatment at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar, Kedah,” she shared.
The woman that her husband worked as a fisherman and was already sleeping around when she gave birth to her first child but she was oblivious to what was going on.
It wasn’t until after the birth of my second child that I noticed small lumps in my private area. A visit to a nearby clinic later confirmed I had contracted HIV along with my husband too.
“As for my second child, he was diagnosed with cancer but fortunately was spared from getting infected with HIV,” she said.
Thankful for support received
The woman said after she learnt of her HIV diagnosis, she felt extremely ashamed and avoided her neighbors and those around her.
However, she expressed gratefulness that she was gradually accepted by the community over time as they realised it wasn’t her fault to begin with.
“While life as an HIV patient has been difficult, I’m thankful that neither of my two children contracted the virus.
“In addition to being diagnosed with HIV, I also face other health issues, including asthma and a brain tumor.
“I have come to terms with my fate, but I want to advise other women diagnosed with HIV to not be afraid to face reality and continue to seek treatment at the hospital.”
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