A mother’s keeper

Mrs. Lan contracted HIV from her husband who was a drug user. After finding out she had HIV, she became depressed, but her love for her daughter kept her strong.

This essay was made to show that even though people have HIV, they can still lead a normal life.

Many people in Vietnam think this is not possible and that once you have HIV your life is over.

Mrs. Lan’s daily life was documented to be an inspiration to people that just found out they have HIV.

Location: Hai Phong, Vietnam

Category: Vietnam NGO Photography Story

Client: CESVI Vietnam

Lan contracted HIV from her husband who was a drug user. Lan's husband went to take a HIV test after he had shared a needle with another addict. Even though Lan was pregnant he didn't tell Lan that he had taken a HIV test or that it was positive until 3 months later. At that time she had just given birth to her daughter Giang.

At first she didn't know anything about HIV or how it contracted. She was shocked when she found out the news and fainted in the hospital.

When lan found out she had HIV she had just given birth to her daughter Giang. She was very scared that Giang might have HIV as well. She took Giang to get tested 2 times and she was relieved to find out her result was negative.

Whenever Lan felt depressed and had suicidal tendencies she would look at her daughter and forgot all of her negative thoughts. She wants her daughter to have a better life then anything she ever had.

Lan waits for the nurse to write down her name on her ARV medicine. She has to go to the hospital to pick up her medicine once a month. A one month supply of ARV costs 50,000VND or roughly $3.50 USD.

Lan goes to the hospital to pic up her government subsidised ARV medicine. This medicine helps Lan and other HIV infected people live a more normal life and keeps the HIV virus at bay.

After Lan brings her daughter to school she takes her ARV medicine. Every morning and every evening Lan takes her medicine at exactly 8:00. The medicine has to be taken exactly at the same time everyday in order for it be be effective against HIV.

Lan works for many different organizations to help support people who have HIV or underprivileged. One of her jobs is to give emotional support and advice to people who are having medical or personal problems.

Lan says that she wanted to help people because someone helped her in a similar way when she found out she had HIV. This work also makes her feel happy because she can help people and she feels she is a valuable member her community. For Vietnamese, this is a very important part of their society.

Lan today still goes to support group sessions and life skills workshops.

Many of the support groups offer activities and give counciling to help the members of the group.

Lan finds that is easy for everyone to share all their problems and to get advice and emotional support there.

Lan and her daughter now live a very normal life as Lan can support herself through her work with many NGO support group organizations.

Giang, the daughter of Lan, does her homework at night.

Lan says that sometimes it is difficult to get Giang to do her homework. She knows that if she makes Giang study hard and do well in school that she will have more opportunities in the future.

A mother’s keeper

Location: Hai Phong, Vietnam

Category: Vietnam NGO Photography Story

Client: CESVI Vietnam

At first she didn't know anything about HIV or how it contracted. She was shocked when she found out the news and fainted in the hospital.

When lan found out she had HIV she had just given birth to her daughter Giang. She was very scared that Giang might have HIV as well. She took Giang to get tested 2 times and she was relieved to find out her result was negative.

Whenever Lan felt depressed and had suicidal tendencies she would look at her daughter and forgot all of her negative thoughts. She wants her daughter to have a better life then anything she ever had.

Lan waits for the nurse to write down her name on her ARV medicine. She has to go to the hospital to pick up her medicine once a month. A one month supply of ARV costs 50,000VND or roughly $3.50 USD.

Lan goes to the hospital to pic up her government subsidised ARV medicine. This medicine helps Lan and other HIV infected people live a more normal life and keeps the HIV virus at bay.

After Lan brings her daughter to school she takes her ARV medicine. Every morning and every evening Lan takes her medicine at exactly 8:00. The medicine has to be taken exactly at the same time everyday in order for it be be effective against HIV.

Lan works for many different organizations to help support people who have HIV or underprivileged. One of her jobs is to give emotional support and advice to people who are having medical or personal problems.

Lan says that she wanted to help people because someone helped her in a similar way when she found out she had HIV. This work also makes her feel happy because she can help people and she feels she is a valuable member her community. For Vietnamese, this is a very important part of their society.

Lan today still goes to support group sessions and life skills workshops.

Many of the support groups offer activities and give counciling to help the members of the group.

Lan finds that is easy for everyone to share all their problems and to get advice and emotional support there.

Lan and her daughter now live a very normal life as Lan can support herself through her work with many NGO support group organizations.

Giang, the daughter of Lan, does her homework at night.

Lan says that sometimes it is difficult to get Giang to do her homework. She knows that if she makes Giang study hard and do well in school that she will have more opportunities in the future.