Title: Philippa Lawson: changing policies by and for positive women.

POPLINE Document Number: 195362

Author(s):

Hyman J

Source citation:

Global AIDSLink, 2004 Apr-May;(85):27.

Abstract:

When Philippa Lawson found out she was living with HIV in 1986, she followed the medical advice given and told her loved ones she was dying of cancer. HIV had yet to be identified as the cause of AIDS (it was then known as HTLV-3), and there was a great deal of ignorance and fear about the disease even inside the medical community. "I had no pre- or post-test counseling, just a female doctor who began to cry when she told me that I had the AIDS virus, and that I probably had six months to live. I was 23 years old then," Lawson recalled. Not only did doctors urge her not to tell anyone, including her family, but they also advised her to carry bleach with her, to disinfect the silverware, dishes and toilets that she used. But after the sixth month of her death sentence came and went, Lawson knew that she needed to learn how to live with the disease. Unfortunately, the only support group she could find in Chicago was for gay men. Lawson joked, "I told them, I'm willing to pretend." Still, despite her ability to face adversity with humor, Lawson knew she wasn't the only infected woman who needed a supportive environment. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Nepal
Women
HIV Positive Persons
HIV Prevention
Interviews
Advocacy
Developing Countries
Asia, Southern
Asia
Demographic Factors
Population
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Data Collection
Research Methodology
Communication