The original version of this old article reported the actual names of two people who had HIV disease. They have been renamed X and Y and their neighbourhood Z by the [him] moderator. One assumes that since they are dead, they could not give permission for their names to be reported. Narinjara News should observe ethical guidelines in their HIV journalism.

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No treatment for AIDS patients in Arakan
Narinjara News
14 July 2006

A couple from Mrauk U, the ancient city of Arakan, died of AIDS
complications recently in their home after the Akyab hospital authorities
refused to treat them, as they had no AIDS related medicine available,
said a source close to family of the deceased.

The couple has been identified as XX (38) and his wife YY, (32)
from ZZ ward in Mrauk U.  The two died on different dates.
According to the source, YY died three months before XX.

XX began to show symptoms of AIDS after his wife passed away. He was
admitted to Akyab General Hospital but was not treated as the hospital did
not have appropriate medicines.

In Arakan State, there are a number of AIDS and HIV patients, but they are
not admitted to the hospitals as the authorities do not wish to treat AIDS
patients as they would other patients, said a townsperson from Akyab.

A source said that there is a rumour in vogue that AIDS patients admitted
to the hospital would die, as the authorities somehow kill the AIDS
patients.  Because of this rumour, many AIDS patients are unwilling to go
to the hospitals for treatment out of fear for their lives.

According to a government report, before 1990 there were no AIDS related
patients in Arakan, but the current rates of AIDS and HIV infections in
the state are increasing by the day.