With assistance, we can take dramatic turnaround

At age 16, Prarthana, from a remote village in Chittagong, was forced by her impoverished parents to marry Biplob, a returnee overseas migrant. What she did not know was that he had acquired HIV during his stay abroad, although his parents and friends were aware. They had suggested that Biplob marry an underage girl to “get rid of” the HIV. Within a year, Prarthana and Biplob (all names changed to protect privacy) had a child. A few months thereafter, Biplob died of AIDS. Subsequently, both Prarthana and the baby were found to be HIV-positive.
After Biplob's death and this diagnosis, both Prarthana's own parents and in-laws began to stigmatize and discriminate against Prarthana. From sheer lack of food, medicine or extended family support, the baby soon died as well. Prarthana herself was near death before the Ashar Alo Society (AAS), a key partner of the United Nations, found her and offered food and shelter at its Dhaka-based centre supported by the Joint Programme on Violence Against Women. Through the centre, Prarthana received income-generation training co-sponsored by AAS and the United Nations. Later, she received 10,000 Taka (about US$125) as a one-time grant to start her own business in home-based poultry and goat rearing. A total of 145 other HIV-positive women have received similar grants
Today, at age 20, Prarthana now enjoys an inspirational life story: She has recently found a life partner of her choice, and she and her husband are happily married and living in the Sylhet region. To help support the couple, she is making a living through poultry farming as a result of the Joint Programme.