Positive Living in North-eastern Brazil

Real Lives in Manicoré

(names have been changed to protect identities)

Ane was born and raised in Manicoré a medium-sized town in the Amazon. She lives in a brightly-painted red house with her eldest son and three daughters. She does not have a job so money is scarce. But, other than a lack of regular income, Ane is happy with the life she and her family have. Her optimism is impressive considering what life has recently thrown her way.

In February 2009, pregnant with her fifth child, Ane became ill and started to grow very weak. She visited her local doctor who sent her for a series of blood tests. Frustratingly, nothing showed up. Fearing for her health and the health of her unborn child, she travelled on a two day boat journey to Manaus; the capital of Amazonas.

On her arrival, Ane was admitted into hospital. The doctors ran an array of tests including tests for HIV/AIDS. She was called into a private room and the nurse explained that her test was positive.
The nurse was empathic and explained the significance of living with HIV. She reassured Ane that they would do all they could for her, and  that she would be given a caesarean birth to reduce the risk of mother-to-child infection. However, Ane´s labour was surprisingly quick and and it was too late to carry out a caesarean.

Tests showed low levels of the virus in her newborn child and it was clear that the baby girl needed to be close to medical facilities. Facilitites that don't exist in Manicoré. Ane made the difficult decision to give her child to a friend of her cousin who was better able to provide for her.

All of Ane’s children know that she is seropositive and she has always been very open with them. However, many members of her family do not visit anymore. They don’t understand the HIV virus and are scared of being near her. Ane’s neighbours are aware of her status but they don’t comment. 

Ane describes the stigma she experiences: "you just sense something different". She has learnt much during this year of change and her strength shines through as she sums it up: "people discriminate because they don’t understand. There are so many people who don’t know how you get it and what it is".  

During the regular trips that she now makes into Manaus, Ane has met several support groups including the Rede de Amazardes, a network of people living with HIV. Ane explains these encounters with warmth and describes the groups as humane and caring. She comments that these encounters highlight a gap that exists in her home town of Manicoré.

We begin talking about the possibility of a support group in Manicoré. Ane believes that there are many people infected in the town and she is convinced she knows individuals. She thinks that there is definite scope to call a meeting and begin discussions regarding support group, she agrees to talk to her acquaintances.

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