Neetu
A Conversation That Changed Everything
At Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Delhi, the Project Sshakti team, part of a Development Consortium initiative that supports people living with HIV, encountered a challenging LFU (Lost to Follow-Up) case. Neetu Sharma, a 26-year-old woman in her eighth month of pregnancy. Her viral load had not been monitored recently as she missed several follow-up visits to the project’s HIV Care and Support Centre. When contacted by the team, she insisted she was HIV-negative and shared a test report from Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. Her husband also backed this claim, forwarding a “negative” report via WhatsApp.
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But Neetu’s hospital records told a different story. She was previously diagnosed HIV-positive and had been receiving ART (Antiretroviral Therapy - the daily treatment that helps people living with HIV reduce their viral load and stay healthy). Sensing something was not right, our team visited the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital to verify the report. There, we discovered that only one rapid test had been done. There was no confirmatory testing, a mistake that could cost lives.
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We coordinated with the counsellor at Ambedkar Hospital and planned another home visit. This time, we did not argue or insist. We simply asked, “Even if you believe everything is fine, shouldn’t we still protect the baby?”
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That one question changed everything. Neetu and her husband returned to the hospital the next day. She resumed ART, got her viral load tested, and received regular antenatal care. Soon after, she delivered a healthy baby at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. She chose not to breastfeed, and her baby is now receiving formula and postnatal care.
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What began as denial and misinformation transformed into acceptance, care, and proactive treatment- a life potentially saved, and a future protected. This is not just a story of medical care. It is about trust rebuilt, fear addressed, and a baby’s life protected. Sometimes, change begins with one honest conversation and someone willing to listen.
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