“I have been HIV positive for 17 years and I am now 36. I was shocked when I was diagnosed with HIV and felt that my whole world had plunged into darkness. The only thing on my mind at that moment was death,” said Kak Salwa (not her real name).

As a woman living with HIV, Kak Salwa went through a difficult journey of self-acceptance while facing head-on discrimination from her family and friends. There was a time when her family held a ‘Doa Selamat’ for her and her neighbours who came refused to take the drinks prepared for fear that they might get infected.

Nevertheless, that did not deter Kak Salwa from continuing with her life. As soon as she started her treatment, she got better and was able to secure a stable job. It was then that she met her husband, Abang Zainal (not his real name).

Abang  Zainal, 42, who is HIV negative, met Kak Salwa when they started working together in the same NGO. From the start, he knew about Kak Salwa’s status and being well-informed about HIV, he believed that he could make their marriage work.

“People living with HIV now have many options when it comes to deciding to have a family. I really hope that we can reach out to as many people as possible to let them know that treatment is prevention. As such, the stigma and discrimination towards People living with HIV should not happen,” said Abang Zainal.

It’s 2020 now and Kak Salwa and Abang Zainal have been married for 12 years. They are blessed with two boys, aged nine and seven years old, who are both HIV negative. The couple is now expecting their third bundle of joy.

This proves that with treatment, people living with HIV will not pass the virus to their partners and it is indeed possible for them to have a healthy family.