The woman was not only quite emaciated, but was looking tired and old too. But she was in the ward for pregnant women. Such an old woman with a pregnancy was not so common in our practice.
"Sir, this woman is admitted because she is HIV positive" my Registrar said. HIV is the virus that causes the dreaded disease AIDS.
"How old is she?" I asked.
"She said she was 28."
"Huh?" I said.
"Yes, Sir. She looks quite old. But she has a small child."
A small child ran to her from the door of the ward, said something, and ran out again. It was just three years old."
"That was her child" I asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Is her husband HIV positive too?"
"Yes, Sir. We have referred him for treatment to the HIV center."
We finished round of that ward and went to another ward. On the way, the same child ran across our path, stumbled on a kitten, jumped, ran again, only to be caught and picked up by a man who looked like a laborer. The child giggled, the man grinned, and it was a happy moment for them.
"That is the HIV positive patient's husband" the Registrar said. "The child is always playing here. Quite a naught boy!"
I knew they were naughty in different ways, but could not help saying "Naughty Father, Naughty Son! No wonder that woman looks so old and tired at 28."
"Sir, this woman is admitted because she is HIV positive" my Registrar said. HIV is the virus that causes the dreaded disease AIDS.
"How old is she?" I asked.
"She said she was 28."
"Huh?" I said.
"Yes, Sir. She looks quite old. But she has a small child."
A small child ran to her from the door of the ward, said something, and ran out again. It was just three years old."
"That was her child" I asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"Is her husband HIV positive too?"
"Yes, Sir. We have referred him for treatment to the HIV center."
We finished round of that ward and went to another ward. On the way, the same child ran across our path, stumbled on a kitten, jumped, ran again, only to be caught and picked up by a man who looked like a laborer. The child giggled, the man grinned, and it was a happy moment for them.
"That is the HIV positive patient's husband" the Registrar said. "The child is always playing here. Quite a naught boy!"
I knew they were naughty in different ways, but could not help saying "Naughty Father, Naughty Son! No wonder that woman looks so old and tired at 28."
