Begum Inaara visit Berlin AIDS Support Centre
2 October 2009, Berlin, Germany
A visit close to her heart: Begum Inaara Aga Khan, chair of the Committee for Festive Opera Gala for the German AIDS Foundation, visited Berlin AIDS Support Centre in Charlottenburg, Berlin. She met with female HIV patients from throughout Germany as well as from migrant communities. Patients, many of whom live in fear of being shunned even by their own families do not dare to talk about their illness fearing that they may be ostracised.
Begum Inaara Aga Khan, mother of two children, sat with the women while they told her about their life stories. She listened sympathetically to their pleas for improvement in care and treatments whilst giving them encouragement and moral support. Only few had the courage to discuss their illness and most of the women preferred to stay anonymous for fear of being recognised.
“These are real human tragedies; these women are in a particularly difficult situation and their fate weighs heavier on them than on the men; they feel immensely guilty” says the Begum, “they are in fear of being stigmatised by society regardless of how they were infected: whether as victims of rape, through infected blood transfusions, through their husband or unprotected sex. Any one of us could become infected, and for that reason alone, it is so important to exercise great personal care and this goes for Germany as well as the rest of the world.”
The women felt well cared for by the Berlin AIDs Support Centre. For them it is the only place where they can come and talk about their personal concerns and where they receive help. Here friendships and solidarity develop amongst fellow patients.
In a video message, the princess appealed to the people of Berlin to continue their support for the German AIDS Foundation so that projects such as, Berlin AIDS Support Centre, get sufficient funding to continue their work. She also urges them to attend the forthcoming 16th Festive Opera Gala, proceeds of which go to support the projects of German AIDS Foundation.
“Responsibility for the illness, caused by the body’s immune deficiency, is everyone’s responsibility. We must not abandon the victims of HIV & AIDS.”
