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An intravenous drug user, Aamron tried taking his own life by a heroin overdose when he was diagnosed as HIV-positive. He met an MSF health educator while recuperating in hospital in Manipur. He describes his journey and how he survived with the support of treatment he received from MSF.
We meet Aamron in the MSF clinic in Churachandpur, Manipur, where he attends an HIV-positive support group. Aamron shows a lot of energy as he shares his experiences with the group of 20 other HIV patients. The group meets monthly at the clinic, to get treatment for HIV and for counselling and peer support. While Aamron is only 31-years-old, he has a lot to share about his personal history.
When Aamron was 15-years-old, his father died. It was a difficult time for him, and he started experimenting with drugs. He moved to Delhi to study when he was 20. Aamron has a creative mind, and playing music is his passion. He also lived his life to the fullest, and, unfortunately, got deeply involved with drugs. His career as a student ended unsuccessfully. Aamron had to quit, and went back to Churachandpur.
Taking an unwanted step
Back home, he had to pick up his life. But during that time, he also craved new experiments and tried heroin for the first time, becoming an intravenous drug user.
It was in January 2008 when Aamron started feeling ill. He went to the local hospital in Churachandpur. There, he was diagnosed with HIV. Finding out that he was HIV-positive was the saddest and darkest period in his life. He was in shock, and decided, in February, to commit suicide by taking an overdose of heroin. His mother found him just in time. Aamron woke up in the hospital.
In the hospital, he started his first rehabilitation. During that time, he met an MSF health educator who informed him about HIV treatment by MSF. After that, Aamron went through several periods of rehabilitation and drug use.
Stepping back from the edge
In March 2012 Aamron started his treatment at the MSF clinic. Every month he comes by to the clinic on foot, for his medication and, if he feels depressed, to talk to one of the MSF counsellors. Aamron is thankful for his treatment.
A year later, Aamron is finally clean. “If MSF wasn’t here to help me I would be dead already. The counselling and HIV support group give me the motivation I need to live my life normally,” he says.
Right now, Aamron is feeling better, he has more energy, and he starts his days with push and pull-ups. He also helps his mother clean the house. He would love to find a job and, in the meanwhile, he’s writing stories and poems. Still a creative mind, Aamron wants to inspire, and be an example for the younger generation, helping them to keep away from drugs.
“It is my dream to give hope,” he says.
Aamron was interviewed by Zenka Slegt and Frank Aalderinks
