story of Leticia Sanchez
The story of Leticia Sanchez
‘My name is Leticia Romero Sanchez and I am 25 years of age. I am a housewife and I live in Nindirí, Masaya in Nicaragua. A year after the birth of my third daughter, my health began to deteriorate to such a degree that I was dismissed from my job at a Taiwanese factory, as I had spent more time in the hospital than working. I became ill easily and I didn’t know why.
They sent me to the clinic and they did tests but the results did not report anything. I decided to travel to the hospital in Jinotepe, where they carried out several blood tests. One week later, I was diagnosed with HIV. I lost 80% of my hair and my body weight was 80 pounds. My family and neighbours did not support me, due to their ignorance and fear that they would be infected if they had any physical contact with me. Only one neighbour took pity on me and she took me in her car to the hospital in Masaya, but they said the best thing for me to do was to return to my house and wait to die. We then decided to go to Managua to try another hospital. I was hospitalised for two weeks and stabilized, and the doctor who took care of me referred me to an organization called ASONVIHSIDA (Association of Nicaraguan People Living with HIV/AIDS), where I could find emotional support from sharing with other people who were affected, and most importantly I could obtain data on the virus and knowledge on the best way to live life with HIV/AIDS.
My mission today is to take information to other people who are in the same situation that I was in five years ago. I take positive messages and prevention information to the communities. My family has changed their attitude to me thanks to that information.
I am now the Coordinator of the International Network of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW LAC) in Masaya and I also hold the position of Treasurer on the Board of Directors at ASONVIHSIDA. I have understood that HIV/AIDS does not kill, but that the most dangerous thing is the stigma and discrimination that surround it.
Life is what we do with it… it is important to have solidarity and be united in the hope of a dignified life… that is to say ‘yes’ together to life!’
Interact Worldwide is working with ASONVIHSIDA and 4 other local organisations in Nicaragua to reduce the vulnerability of young people to the impacts of HIV/AIDS and poor sexual and reproductive health and rights. The project is funded by the European Commission over 3 years. This project is being implemented in rural and urban areas in Managua, the Autonomous Region of the South Atlantic, Masaya, Granada, Rivas, Carazo, Leon, Chinandega, Nueva Segovia and Madriz.
The project aims to reach approximately 140,925 young people, including those in and out of school, people living with HIV/AIDS, men who have sex with men, and sex workers.