Summary: Bina Basnet was only five when she arrived to SETU Nepal with her mother. Her father was from India and denied looking after them after Bina was born. As Bina’s mother eloped and married her husband when she was just 17, she could not return to her family. At Kathmandu they tested Bina and found out that she was infected with HIV like her mother. Bina’s mother was in dilemma as she could not return to her family and did not own any property as well.
Bina Basnet, was admitted to a centre that treats children with HIV in 2008 when she was 2 years old. She is originally from a small, rural village in eastern Nepal, around 350km from Kathmandu. Bina has been infected with HIV virus from birth as her mother Balkumari is also a carrier.
When Bina’s mother (Balkumari) was 10, her parents sent her to another home to work as a servant. When Balkumari turned 17, she met a man from India who frequently visited Nepal. They got married without the consent of their parents. 4 years later, she gave birth to Bina. Bina’s father has been estranged from the family for 5 years, and they do not expect to see him again.
Bina’s life has been tumultuous over the past 5 years. As the organization only offers temporary support, every child gets discharged from the centre once their health status becomes stable. So Bina was discharged from there and referred to SETU Nepal for her shelter as Bina and her mother had no place to return back after the treatment.
In spite of Bina’s recovery, she and her mother Balkumari have faced significant health challenges each time she got discharged from the centre and now they are in the shelter of SETU Nepal, However, she faces several obstacles: they have no family support, as Bina’s father is no longer in contact with the family, and her grandparents are unavailable. The rural community are reluctant to help them, due to the stigma attached to HIV carriers.
CURRENT STATUS: Bina has completed her SEE with 3.0 GPA and will now join highschool for further studies. She aspires to become a fashion designer.
SETU Nepal welcomes the kind heart and helping hand to encourage her to do better for her future. Your any kind of support will be highly appreciated.