Keisha Shakespeare-Blackmore, Staff Reporter

Recap: Gabrielle* continues to battle HIV, is pregnant and is living in a volatile community.

After many weeks of struggling with vaginitis, Gabrielle* has finally received aid through the help of some good Samaritans. But, even when she gets a break, there are still some challenges, and, once more, the hospital is the culprit.

Recently, she went to the hospital to do an ultrasound and blood test. She had a 9 a.m. appointment, but got there at 8 a.m. On arrival, there were five other mothers, but no medical personnel to assist them.

Discomfort

After waiting for some time, the attendant came. After settling in she took their appointment cards. It was now 10 a.m. and still the doctor had not arrived.

After an hour of waiting, the attendant came out to tell them that the doctor was assisting patients on the hospital ward.

"By this time I was very hungry and wanted to urinate. But I couldn't use the restroom or eat, because we were told we had to do the ultrasound on an empty stomach and with a full bladder," said Gabrielle.

She told Flair that the other women began quarrelling because they too were hungry and tired of waiting. They asked the attendant when the doctor would be coming to see them. But this only made her upset.

Long wait

"She told us that if we wanted the doctor, we should go and look for him ourselves."

The doctor did not begin seeing them until some minutes before 2 p.m. But he began with those who had to return to the ward. Gabrielle did not get her turn until after 6 p.m.

The good news, however, is that her ultrasound showed that the baby was fine and currently weighs five and a half pounds. Also, with the antibiotics she got from the doctor, her infection has cleared up.

Recently, she went to sign the first set of papers for her tubal ligation procedure. She will be signing the final documents soon. This, she said, has to be done before she goes into labour, which is in a few months.

*Name changed