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HIV – the abbreviation stands for the human immunodeficiency virus – and also for the “Happy Indian Village”, a small village somewhat remote in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Around 110 people live here, almost all of them are HIV positive.
Morning exercise is currently on the agenda.
The story of the “Happy Indian Village” begins 18 years ago.
At that time, journalist Ravi Bapatle made a terrible discovery in his village.
Ravi Bapatle, founder of the “Happy Indian Village”:
“A child from my village came out as HIV-positive, infected by his parents.
His parents died of HIV and he became an orphan.
He was not treated well in his village.
Nobody knew whether he lived or died.
One day my friend and I went looking for him and we found him dead. It was only because the boy was HIV positive that he was expelled from the village and died.
That was the moment I decided to do something for these children.
My family and friends didn't agree with my decision.
The first thing I needed was a room for the children.
And I had to quit my job to do that.”
A friend's grandfather gave him six and a half acres of land, and he began collecting donations.
But the villagers resisted Ravi Bapatle's plans.
Ravi Bapatle, founder of the “Happy Indian Village”:
“When I had finished building two huts, a group of 70 to 80 people from the village came and destroyed everything.
At that time I was really angry and sad.
I did it for the children and they tried to destroy my dream.”
Bapatle didn't want to report the attackers; he continued despite ongoing discrimination.
HIV-infected children were not allowed to go to school in the neighboring village; the villagers were afraid that their children would be infected.
But over time they gave in.
The “Happy Indian Village” now includes 16 hectares of land, as well as fields for self-sufficiency and several animals.
70 children and 40 adults live here, including Rani.
Her mother died when she was still a child.
This was the beginning of a difficult time for Rani.
Rani, resident:
»My relatives refused to take me into their care because they were afraid of the illness I was diagnosed with.
My grandmother then took care of me and helped me complete my primary school education.
After that, the villagers told my uncle to take care of me and I moved in with him.
My cousins were there too, but I was separated from them.
My dishes and clothes were kept in a box separate from the 'normal' items in the house.
I was really sad and I thought about suicide twice."
Rani's uncle eventually brought her to the village; she has now graduated, is married and has two children.
With a population of over 1.4 billion, India is the most populous country in the world.
The proportion of HIV-infected people in the total population is significantly lower than in other countries.
And yet 2.4 million people live there with HIV.
Only in South Africa is the number even higher.
In addition to the high population, there is another reason for this.
Vinod Raina, doctor and HIV expert:
»The second cause is hygiene.
There is hardly any education in schools about what to look out for or how to prevent STIs, including HIV.
When a person grows up, they don't know what to pay attention to when it comes to 'safer sex'.
If we succeed in anchoring sex education in schools, we will be able to reduce the number of cases.
Between 2010 and 2022, annual new HIV infections are said to have decreased by 42 percent, also thanks to various measures that the government has taken: For example, citizens can now be tested for HIV free of charge.
PrEP and PeP medications could further reduce infections.
PrEP stands for “pre-exposure prophylaxis,” a medication that HIV-negative people take to protect themselves from possible HIV contact.
PeP, i.e. “post-exposure prophylaxis,” prevents HIV viruses from settling in the body if you have had potential contact with HIV.
While the use of condoms has been promoted since the 1990s, PrEP and PeP medications have not yet been widely used.
In 2022, an Indian expert committee developed strategies for increasing access to these medications.
Vinod Raina, doctor and HIV expert:
»Previously, PrEP and PeP were not available in state hospitals.
But now it has started.
They play a very important role and I call on our government to develop an appropriate promotion and approach to give PrEP or PeP to every patient who comes to a health center.”
Despite all medical advances, prejudices are still widespread in society.
A 2020 study shows that people fear being ostracized if they make their HIV infection public.
These people may also receive fewer consultations and tests.
Dr.
Vinod Raina provides information about HIV prevention and treatment on YouTube.
Society in India is changing, he says.
Vinod Raina, doctor and HIV expert:
»Our society was intolerant.
We're opening up a little now.
It's the same thing that happened in Europe and America in the 1970s and 1980s.
The same thing is happening here now.
We learn, we grow and our mentality grows with us.
I ask all people, all of society, not to discriminate.
People infected with HIV are people like us.
It's a coincidence that they were infected.
They shouldn’t be excluded.”
In the meantime, Rani has also found a way to deal openly with her illness.
Rani, resident:
»I am not afraid of being called HIV-positive, the disease was transmitted through my parents.
There are too many taboos about HIV-positive people, but I talk about it openly.«
In the “Happy Indian Village” no one is excluded or discriminated against.
The village is more than just a few houses.
It is a community where people support each other and children develop a sense of belonging.
And although it is a matter of the heart for Ravi Bapatle, he says goodbye:
Ravi Bapatle, founder of the “Happy Indian Village”:
“Everyone likes this village.
But I wish it would be closed in the next ten years.
HIV should disappear, so I hope that our society no longer needs villages like this one.”