Today we went to Victor Babes hospital and met with Mary, an American nurse who has been working in Bucharest for 14 years. Her focus and area of expertise is on AIDS. It was truly a gift to be a fly on the wall to hear the conversation between Susan and Mary. They have both been in the midst of it for so long, so they know the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to NGO’s, dealing with the government, and programs in the country.
I was dumbfounded to realize that to obtain a job where you would be in contact with foreigners you have to take an AIDS test. Therfore even someone who is now in their teens or twenties and has been on anti viral’s since childhood and is in very stable health can't even get a job as a maid at a hotel or cleaning at a McDonald’s.
Unbelievable to realize that discrimination at such a blatant level not only exists, but is the law. Doesn’t leave much hope for those infected….
I was dumbfounded to realize that to obtain a job where you would be in contact with foreigners you have to take an AIDS test. Therfore even someone who is now in their teens or twenties and has been on anti viral’s since childhood and is in very stable health can't even get a job as a maid at a hotel or cleaning at a McDonald’s.
Unbelievable to realize that discrimination at such a blatant level not only exists, but is the law. Doesn’t leave much hope for those infected….
On a happier note once we got back to the house we gave out some of the candy we brought with us. Talk about kids with a love for sweets! They could not get enough. I have a feeling we may have opened up the floodgates on this one.. Dr. Toma is not going to be happy with us.
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