Here is a piece from a Maryknoll sister. Moving to Yangon and having a low CD4 cell count got Ma Rosie treatment.

Jamie

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Finding Acceptance at Last
Mary Grenough, MM

Ma Rosie is a 36-year-old widow whose husband died of AIDS five years ago. She is of the Karen ethnic group, and speaks Karen more than Burmese, a Catholic, very simple, honest and pious. She is from the Bago district and was referred to our Myanmar Catholic HIV/AIDS Network (MCAN) office in Yangon by the diocese.

Earlier this year, Ma Rosie was tested and diagnosed with AIDS by the local national AIDS program. Her CD4 cell count (a test for AIDs infection within the body) was only 100 (normal is over 500 cells/mm3 ). She urgently needed anti-retroviral medicines, but was told that the program could supply medicines for only 20 persons, and their quota was full. One of the doctors there suggested that she come to the doctor’s private clinic, where she was given a prescription for the ART medicines, plus vitamins -- costing 60,000 kyats (about US $64) a month at the doctor’s private pharmacy. After six months, she could no longer afford them.

Ma Rosie had been living with her in-laws and supporting herself and daughter by doing housework for another family. But when she became weak, she could no longer work and be self-supporting. When her in-laws discovered she had AIDS, they rejected her, forced her out of their house, doesn’t let her daughter stay with her, and even tried to prevent her from touching her daughter for fear that she would transmit AIDS by embracing her! When we met her in Yangon, she was very depressed and wasn’t able to think clearly.

MCHAN was able to arrange with the Guiding Star parish self-help group for her to stay at the shelter in St. Edward’s Parish, Mingaladon,Yangon. Our staff brought her to the nearby clinic where doctors told her they could include her as a patient if her CD4 count would be below 200 (still life-threatening). She prayed that her count would be low! And it was -- was only 95.

Now weeks later, Ma Rosie (not her real name) is coming back to life -- no longer depressed, gaining weight and energy, and able to think clearly. She is very happy to be staying with members of Guiding Star who understand her and lovingly accept her. Soon she will be able to return home, strong enough to work again, and become, like them, educators whose lives show others that they are good, capable, and responsible.

Who knows, maybe Ma Rosie will help her diocese to form their own self-help group. Ma Rosie will return to the clinic in Yangon every three months for check-ups and a new supply of medicines.

https://www.maryknollsisters.org/articles/finding-acceptance-last