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Nov 2014 back issue
by Sergey Stroitelev
Today in Nepal there are more than 20 000 children under 15 who are infected with HIV.
The most vulnerable regions are small villages, almost unreachable by transport, which have some of the
poorest inhabitants in the country. The children living with HIV in these rural areas face terrible difficulties. Besides
having physical weakness and apathy (the main symptoms of the infection) children have to hide their diagnosis from
other people; from their neighbors and classmates as HIV is a taboo in Nepal, especially in remote areas where people
still think that infection is similar to plague and may spread by air. This hinders children to get proper treatment. Their
parents refuse to call doctors or to go to the hospital. They are afraid the neighbors will know that something is wrong
with the child in the family. Even if the family decide that they do want to have their child treated, often travel costs to
and from the hospital are prohibitive.
It is really hard to believe that so many children are affected and have to endure such hardship through no fault of their
own. Often they will have inherited the infection from their parents. Perhaps the father contracted HIV from visiting
brothels in India or the mother from human trafficking.
I travelled all around one of the most vulnerable regions of Nepal - Makawanpur, photographing HIV children. I talked
to them, looked into their eyes. By the means of portraiture and usage of natural light I displayed what I feel and what
they feel in this series, their distressed mental state, their innocent sorrow.
Sima (13 years old from Gadi village, Makawanpur district, Nepal) in her bedroom at home.
Shamrhidhi (5 years old from from Lamsure village, Makawanpur district) outside her house on the corn kernels and
shielding her face from the sun. Shamrhidhi's parents are still alive and living together. This is unusual in HIV families.
Remit (3 years old from Padampokhari village, Makawanpur district) hiding in the shadows near the fence that
separates his father's premises from the public fields.
Ravin (13 years old from Kamane village, Makawanpur district) playing in the courtyard of his home. His mother got the
infection as the consequence of an accident whilst working in the circus.
Sangita (11 years old from Newarpani village, Makawanpur district) in her bedroom which has a lot of images of the
walls, including the poster displaying Buddha and some family photographs. She is quite a religious child.
Sumil (10 years old from Hetauda bus park area, Makawanpur district). Sumil playing with the whirligig near his house.
Family photo of Remit and his grandparents. Remit's mother died and his father works 24-7 as a furniture maker to
feed the family - accordingly he is never at home. Remit's grandparents take care of him.
Nisa (11 years old from Hatiya village, Makawanput district). Nisa in the corn fields. After her father died, Nisa's mother
married another man. They are all all together now.
Nahor (3 years old from Madikhola village, Makawanpur district). Nahor with his favourite toy bear. Nahor has a
younger sister who was born with no infection from their infected parents.
Sonali (13 years old from Bhaise village, Makawanpur district).
Ravin opening the window in his bedroom to watch the daylight.
Surendra (12 years old from Madikhola village, Makawanpur district) sitting on the terrace of his home. Surendra's
mother died. He lives with his father and grandparents.
A portrait of Nahor and his father who contracted HIV from a brothel in India. He transmitted the infection to his wife
and future child.
Sima watching the landscape near her home situated in the remote Gadi village on the top of a mountain.
Sumil sitting on his bed.
Remit looking at a ray of light.
Sumil after an aftenoon sleep.
Nahor in front of the entrance to his home.
Shamrhidhi in the living room of her home.
