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HIV-hit woman faces social boycott

Kendrapara: Making a mockery of campaigns to educate the public about AIDS, villagers at Baulokani in the district have subjected a HIV-infected woman to social ostracisation under the notion that the disease is air-borne.

The world came crushing down on the 42-year old, living in a ramshackle house, when her spouse died of the disease two years ago and she later contracted the HIV virus.

Now her two sons give her company as she herself fights the disease and the hostile neighbours who have prevented the two teenagers from attending the local government-run school.

Her house has become a virtual prohibited zone shunned by locals, narrated a member of Baulokani Panchayat Samity. “We took pity and tried to help out the distressed family. But many took umbrage and threatened to socially boycott us,” the member said.

- PTI

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