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span class="inline inline-left">Courageous: Agus says that he became infected with HIV when he was a drug addict. -Ade RizalThe 38-year-old said that she found out that she contracted the virus in 2009. '€œI was frustrated for eight days,'€ she said.

Eventually, Sutarti found out that her late husband had infected her. '€œAll I knew that my husband was sick, was hospitalized and died. I did not know that he was infected by HIV/AIDS.'€

Sutarti has no idea how her husband got infected. His death '€” and the revelation of her status '€” were things that she had never prepared for. '€œI was confused. I wondered on how would I pay for my education? For my family and kids?'€

She did not receive a lot of support from those closest to her, despite her mounting tribulations, Sutarti said. Many members of her family, her brothers and sisters and neighbors chose to avoid her after learning of her infection. '€œA lot of people had negative perceptions of me because I had HIV back then.'€

Another former housewife, Islamiyah, told the crowd a story that was much the same. She was also infected by her husband, only finding out that she had contracted HIV after her sick husband was hospitalized.

'€œI was shocked and devastated,'€ Islamiyah, who wore a red ribbon to promote awareness of HIV, said.

However, the 43-year-old said that she did not blame her husband for what happened to her.

Speaking up: People living with HIV need support from friends and family, say HIV/AIDS activists Islamiyati (left), Agus (center) and Sutarti. -Ade Rizal'€œI have no grudge and I hold no anger toward my husband. This is probably God'€™s will,'€ she said. Since Islamiyah found out about her status five years ago, she has regularly participated in a therapy program at Moewardi Hospital in Solo.

Like Sutarti, Islamiyah also faced discrimination from her community and her family.

'€œFortunately, my children continue to give me support,'€ she said.

As time goes by, those close to Islamiyah began to accept her condition.

To help eradicate discrimination against HIV patients, Sutarti and Islamiyah work for NGO Lentera, which provides assistance for those infected by the virus and education programs to stop the spread of the disease.

Another HIV sufferer, Agus Badrullah, said that discrimination against HIV patients was still prevalent within the community.

'€œFor example, nobody wants to use the same utensils we use to eat '€” despite the fact that doing so cannot transfer the HIV infection. Some doctors even tell us to prepare a good grave once they know our status. This is very ironic,'€ he said.

His story differed from the women'€™s. Agus, a drug addict since 1990, found out he was infected in 2006.

'€œWhen I went to Moerwadi Hospital, my HIV status was already at level 4. My eyes were almost blind. I could not breathe, and I was so skinny like an alien,'€ he said.

Agus Badrullah said that all he could think about was death, until other people reached out and gave him hope.

'€œFortunately, a lot of activist friends accompanied me and gave me support,'€ he said. '€œBeing infected by HIV/AIDS is not the end of everything.'€

He has since benefitted from regular therapy and medication.

Most of the estimated 1,400 people diagnosed with the virus in Surakarta are transgendered people, men having sex with men, intravenous drug users, women sex workers and pregnant women, and people with tuberculosis and hepatitis, according to the Surakarta Health Agency.

However, only about 500 '€” less than 40 percent '€” are receiving treatment, according to Tommy Prawoto, the head of the Surakarta office of the National AIDS Commission. Traditional Javanese attitudes towards sex and the stigmatization of those with HIV added to the problem.

People living with HIV '€œare embarrassed because of the negative view of society, which leads them to shut down '€“ or even to leave town,'€ Tommy said. People should seek treatment immediately, he added.