Surviving the stigma

"All I wish is that my family could tell me that they love me, but they don't do that," says Lidia Lemus, a 30-year-old mother of four living on the outskirts of El Salvador's capital, San Salvador.

Lidia began feeling sick eight years ago. She was tested for HIV and found out she was living with the virus. Her husband died of AIDS in 1999.

Even with the growing number of people living with HIV/AIDS, the stigma associated with the disease in El Salvador is still high. Many people do not share their status with family and friends for fear of isolation and judgment. But Lidia feels it is important to tell her story to help others understand. She often speaks in churches and recently shared her story at a regional AIDS conference in San Salvador.

One important source of support for Lidia is the New Dawn Association, an MCC partner. Lidia receives weekly visits and participates in the group's monthly support group meetings. "All of us have the same disease. We share our joys and our struggles. We have friendship. The other women in the group are happy for me. They make me realize I have friends. They inspire me to keep going."