Six years have elapsed since I met Pham Thi Hue who was honoured in 2004 as one of the 20 Asia heroes by Time magazine. Beyond all expectations, she looks healthier than when I went to see her in Hai Phong City.
She told me that she had just spent nearly a month in HCM City playing the lead role in a film directed by Vinh Phuong.
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| Pham Thi Hue - an Asian hero honoured by Time Magazine. |
In the film, Hue acted as a prostitute working to bring up her disabled brother. One day she fell on her head and found out that she had the HIV virus, and from then on everybody began to stay away from her. She lived in despair until she died worrying that her soul would not be reincarnated into the afterlife. With a great deal of sympathy for the unfortunate woman, a 70-year-old man took pity on her.
Hue said on hearing the news that producer Vinh Khuong wanted her in his film, she could not sleep for many nights.
“I was not worried about myself after I dared to publicise my health status nearly 10 years ago. I was afraid that everybody would misunderstand me, because they thought, by taking part in the film, I would become notorious.”
Hue said that she had feared filming at night for nearly a month would worsen her health, but eventually the film script convinced her.
“The film focuses on spiritual issues and is a new way of disseminating information about HIV/AIDS prevention that helps people to live more fuller lives. I hope when the film is released, it will attract a lot of attention from audiences.”
In line with her wishes the film producers agreed to contribute most of the proceeds to a charity for children with HIV.
Joining in community work
Hue said she is fine and has not used any medicine since she contracted HIV.
“I was given a medical check-up 20 days ago and all my health indicators are stable. The more I get involved in community activities, the healthier I feel.”
“In addition, my 9-year-old son is fine, he studies hard and gets on well with his classmates. My husband’s health has also improved a lot. He has taken part in a pilot Methadone treatment programme for drug users. My family has not faced any economic difficulties since he registered for the programme.”
The couple have moved into a new house they bought recently. Local residents no longer show them and other HIV carriers any discrimination or stigma. Many people have even come and asked Hue for advice.
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| Hue\'s farm raises Geoduck clams on Cat Ba island. |
“I do not feel worried any longer because I have suffered much worse. This is a great source of encouragement to HIV carriers like me to continue living and contributing to society.”
Currently, Hue is trying her best to get more people with HIV/AIDS involved in a UN-funded project launched in Hai Phong since 2005. The project encourages people living with HIV to participate in information campaigns to help change the public attitude towards those infected. It also helps to establish a network of clubs and groups involved in HIV prevention, and links carriers, banks and businesses together so that the carriers can take out loans and get steady jobs.
Besides the project, Hue also manages the Hoa Phuong Do Cooperative which is made up of people living with HIV. Established in 2003, the cooperative has become a meeting place where hundreds of members come to share their hardships, get medical check-ups and other services to enable them to lead a healthy life.
The cooperative runs a garment workshop in Kien An district, generating jobs for 15 HIV-infected people who earn between VND1.2-1.7 million each per month. It also operates a farm raising Geoduck clams on Cat Ba island. The farm earned VND300 million in 2008 and nearly VND400 million in 2009, with each worker earning nearly VND2 million a month. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong also visited and praised the project.
Facing the truth
Hue is busy shuttling between provinces and cities such as Hai Phong, Hanoi and Quang Ninh to carry out projects. She also often travels to the US, the Republic of Korea and China to attend conferences on HIV/AIDS organised by the United Nations. Luckily, she receives a great deal of sympathy and support from her husband and relatives.
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| Hue says she has told his son the truth about her health. |
“I am not worried about my son when I stay away for long periods of time because my parents and husband take care of him very carefully….. Several years ago, I told my son the truth that his parents had HIV. I taught him to face the truth and encouraged him to overcome social discriminations. I also taught him how to live an independent life should his parents die one day. Anyway I am happy that the stigma and discrimination against him has lessened, though it sometimes exists here and there.”
Anyone who meets Hue can realise that she is not almost obsessed by the deadly virus she is carrying. She says she feels at ease and knows how to take care of herself and take part in community activities.
“Many people are surprised when they see me, or watch me on TV. They wonder how I have been able to survive with HIV for nearly 10 years, and have even put on weight. Many people asked me if I have any secret of keeping myself in a good shape.”
“In fact there are no secrets at all. First of all, I tell them to feel comfortable in life and get much involved in family and community activities, because this is invaluable food for thought. They need to have a balanced and healthy diet every day under doctors’ instructions. They should also drink more milk and avoid eating uncooked vegetables.”
Despite being busy, Hue spends some of her time taking part in contests on HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2006, she won a first prize with Happiness in Your Hand organised by the Vietnam Red Cross Society and the Vietnam Writers Association.
She has been invited to speak at workshops on HIV/AIDS run by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, the Ministry of Public Security and other organisations. She has also been presented with a certificate of merit by the Hai Phong Municipal People’s Committee.
