Full of Life - Young and Positive

Maria lives with her sister-in-law in a rural part of Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea. Rejected by her parents, her sister-in-law – Eggie – provides Maria a safe and supportive place to live where she is accepted. Maria is also supported and encouraged by Patrick, who runs a local Catholic HIV service. Together, Eggie and Patrick ensure Maria is supported to live with HIV and to remain on treatment. Maria shares her dream of love, marriage and a family of her own. Maria’s message to others is that there is no shame in living with HIV. Full of Live is part of Young & Positive, a series of short films about three young women living with HIV. Collectively and individually they share their experiences of the diagnosis, treatment, fear of death, pregnancy and parenthood, TB, education and making a future, and the possibility of living a normal life. Their inspirational stories weave together the importance of others, family members, children and health care workers who show kindness, love, and support to remain on their HIV treatment.