Download this publication - AIDS Data Hub

eing transgender and sex worker when applying for welfare or monetary aid from localauthorities and agencies, including Baitumal, the welfare arm of the state religiousagency.Women infected by their husband are also badly affected economically, especially if andwhen the husband has died of AIDS leaving her HIV-infected and having to fend forherself and the children as a single parent. Most of the wives were housewives and theirhusband the sole breadwinner. Their situation deteriorates when they themselves becomesick and cannot continue to work or care for their children. A few could still resort totheir Employment Provident Fund (EPF) while some others had to rely on welfare,charity or shelters run by NGOs. A few infected women were fortunate that their ownsiblings or family members were helping them financially, but this was not common inthe study.Generally, older HIV infected persons would be even more disadvantaged economicallyas they would face even more difficulties getting a job. One older HIV positiverespondent in the study was very traumatised and desperate for financial aid as he hadused up all his retirement funds that he had withdrawn from the EPF since beingdiagnosed. He even had to sell off all property that he had painstakingly acquired throughhis working years - his car, house, and even furniture - leaving him threadbare with justhis clothes and a sleeping mattress.The economic repercussion is particularly daunting for sex workers. Several said theywould not reveal their HIV positive status because they knew clients would refuse theirservices. This is particularly the case for drug-using sex workers who are desperate forwork to pay for their drugs. However, some of them in this study claimed they werehonest and reveal their HIV status to clients. A few sex workers felt trapped and torn,yet, they needed to work to survive, and this predicament could push some to be suicidal.Some sex workers said they would continue working out of desperation but said theywould take necessary precautions, i.e., ask their clients to use the condom. Regrettably,however, with clients who prefer not to use condoms – a majority, in fact - sex workersare not in a position to demand it.Drug users said they were already financially strained due to drug addiction. Beingdiagnosed with HIV and requiring money for medication further compound theirfinancial problem. However, when not under the influence of drugs, a few of themcontinue to find whatever odd jobs they could to survive. One even admitted that in thepast he had to resort to committing crime to feed his drug habit which came to RM1500per month for heroin.At the other end of the spectrum are the MSM participants. They are generally of highereducational level and work as professionals with higher income status. In other words,the economic impact is less severe for those of higher social class compared to their lesseducated and lower income counterparts.With regards to the impact on personal expenses, the majority of PLHIV in this studywould say the bulk of their income is spent on buying medication and supplements(Vitamin C, fish oil, spirulina) to maintain their health. The constant monitoring of theresponse to treatment in terms of trips to the hospital to check on their CD count alsotakes a toll on their expenses. This sum varies from RM350 to RM2000 monthly. Even131