Thursday, November 11, 2010

HIV/AIDS across the globe

Here are my favorite photographs from Flickr's Positive Lives page. All credits are under each photograph.

I hope this series of photographs will open everyone's eyes to the the dangers and challenges of contracting the virus. The dangers are real, and it varies from each individual and manifests into many different forms.

I also hope this post will further open minds and hearts on what people like me who are living with HIV faces everyday and how it affects everyone around us. Perhaps, this too will make more people understand what it is like to live with the virus, and realize the challenges and fears we face as we live with an incurable condition.

Photos from Positive Lives

SOUTH AFRICA
Africa / A Broken Landscape
AIDS and HIV as it affects children.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10029394

Africa - South Africa / A Broken Landscape
Baby in terminal stages of AIDS in area where 30% of pregnant mothers are testing positive.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10132070

MOZAMBIQUE
Africa - Mozambique / A Broken Landscape
Arlet Neves, 38. Her sister died of Aids, sitting with her nephew who is afraid of discrimination in spite of not having the disease.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10157208

MALAWI
Africa - Malawi / A Broken Landscape
'A long day of Dying' 35-40% of patient illness at the hospital is AIDS-related.

"Officially we have beds for 110 patients, but we now have about 130 patients and 250 outpatients a day. It's difficult to say accurately how many have died of AIDS because we have run out of reagent for testing and haven't been able able to test. We have approximately one death per day. We lack equipment, we lack staff, we don't have medicines. We don't even have plaster tape, so we have to use masking tape to attach drips or splints to patients arms. We are overwhelmed in every aspect of the epidemic"
Dr Maurice Bonongwe, Director.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10137436

ZAMBIA
Africa - Zambia / A Broken Landscape
Home care volunteer Violet Mukosha comforts one of her clients in Nkwazi Compound in Ndola.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10124398

Africa - Zambia / A Broken Landscape
Children at an anti-Aids club perform a short play about a schoolgirl becoming HIV positive.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10101380

THE PHILIPPINES
Asia - The Philippines / Noora
"It is there all the time, I always think about it, even when I am sleeping. I worry about what will happen to my daughter when I go".
Photograph by Harriet Logan / Gill Turner Agency.
HLA-10153349

Asia - The Philippines / Michael Christopher
Michael Christopher with Sister Sol.
Photograph by Harriet Logan / Gill Turner Agency.
HLA-10153438

Asia - The Philippines / Jack and Au
Jack, Au and Len Len...
Photograph by Harriet Logan / Gill Turner Agency.
HLA-10153364

THAILAND
Asia - Thailand / A Thai Perspective
Lumpai Sirattanan holds her emaciated husband during his final hours. He was once a Thai boxing champion. Lumpai has also tested positive.
Photograph by Jack Picone.
JPB-10149432

Asia - Thailand / A Thai Perspective
A western volunteer comforts a patient who craves to be touched. Touching helps them so much psychologically.
Photograph by Jack Picone.
JPB-10149439

INDIA
Asia - India / TB & AIDS Sanatorium
Sidha Doctor, Sidha medicine is a 5000 year old medicine using herbs and minerals.
Photograph by Dayanita Singh / NbPictures.
DSD-10110642

Asia - India / TB & AIDS Sanatorium
HIV positive children are housed in female wards, often brought after parents have died..
Photograph by Dayanita Singh / NbPictures.
DSD-10110641

Asia - India / Stephen's Destitute Homes

Stephen Vidyakar gives water to a dying women. She was found abandoned by the police, who brought her to Stephen. This home has 100 destitute women, 38 of who are HIV positive. Destitute women that come to Stephen (himself an orphan) have often been raped multiple times and end up becoming HIV positive. Stephen set up an orphanage 15 years ago. Today he has centres all over the state to look after the destitute, orphans and the mentally ill. He has no government support or grant money.
Photograph by Dayanita Singh / NbPictures.
DSD-10110581

AUSTRALIA
Australia / Andrew
Andrew's sense of humour carried him through frequent hospital visits - here he has slapped a sticker on his forehead during a trip to casualty with a focal siezure..
Photograph by Jack Picone.
JPB-10118701

Australia / Andrew
Family and staff care for Andrew in his last moments.
Photograph by Jack Picone.
JPB-10118704


UNITED KINGDOM
Europe - UK / Buddies
Frank and Louise - Frank gets ready for his medication, which Louise will help administer.
Photograph by Judah Passow.
JPA-10009936

Europe - UK / Buddies
F and Katherine - Time to relax and enjoy the day.
Photograph by Judah Passow.
JPA-10009944

Europe - UK / The Ward
John - John's boyfriend often stayed over at the hospital.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10010028

Europe - UK / The Ward
John - A nurse gives John a kiss. The staff were very fond of John.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10010030

Europe - UK / The Ward
Steven - Steven tried to maintain control over his treatment and often challenged the medical team at the hospital about his prescriptions and blood transfusions.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10010038

Europe - UK / The Ward
Andre - Andre sharing a special moment with his mother.

Andre was in for routine treatment when he suddenly became critically ill. His partner and mother have been very supportive during his time in hospital.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10010047

Europe - UK / The Ward
Andre - Andre with his mother and partner, he was seriously ill.
Photograph by Gideon Mendel / Corbis.
GMA-10010045

6 comments:

  1. I really like your site especially when you post something about life that is why your site is one of my inspiration why I open again myself to blog. Thank you very much. :)

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  2. The pictures, they connote multiple personal emotions...

    It's, it's incomprehensible.

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  3. very powerful images..
    could make you weep and applaud at the same time.

    Will I lose my dignity
    will someone care
    will i wake tomorrow
    from this nightmare
    (rent)

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  4. @Legendaro: Thank you. :-)

    @Guyrony: I idolize the photographers who took those photographs, they are the ones who are amazing. Being able to capture such moments and bringing immortality to such.

    @Orally: I share the same thought with the phtographs. That's why I wanted to share. I love Rent1 The first time I watched the movie version of it, I was depressed for more than a week, and I never imagined I will be someone like them, living with the virus. Now, everytime I watch it, fear comes to me, as I will be facing the somewhat the same paths as Angel in that play, did. Watching it bring a beautiful melancholy to me.

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  5. Thank you for sharing the photos. I specially love the ones where other people, whether family, friends or strangers share their lives with PLWHA.

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  6. beautiful, touching tribute. Thank you for sharing.

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