A former Indonesian domestic worker who turned to sex work has shared her story of abandonment by friends in Hong Kong after they learned that she had tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS.
Mawar, who came to Hong Kong as a domestic worker in 2010 but had overstayed since 2015 after her employment contract was terminated, decided become a sex worker in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island together with some friends, according to a feature story on hongkongnews.com.
To save living costs and be able to send money to their families back home, Mawar and her friends rented an apartment and lived together like siblings.
Meanwhile, she applied as a torture claimant and sought asylum so that she could continue to stay in Hong Kong.
On December 26 last year, Mawar suddenly collapsed inside the apartment that she shared with her friends. She was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.
She didn’t worry much at first but after two weeks, she had not recovered. Meanwhile, she learned that her German boyfriend had died recently from complications of AIDS.
In mid-January, her doctor told her she had tested positive for the AIDS virus.
Mawar said the pills and the tremendous pain when the doctor took a sample of fluid from her spine were nothing compared with the pain she suffered when her friends abandoned her to the ravages of AIDS.
Mawar said all her friends disappeared suddenly, not even to visit her once.
She has been transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
It is understood that her family will soon fly to Hong Kong.