Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - July 16, 2004
Anjira Assavanonda and Preeyanat Phanayanggoor
"I wonder how many people can even imagine where Bolivia is when hearing the name. I'll force them to see and think of a part of the world that needs global support to deal with Aids," said Ms Ross, 27, adding she will even present a map of Latin America to the audience.
Despite the conference theme Access for All, Latin America was rarely mentioned, she said.
When it was, the focus was on model countries like Brazil, rather than small countries such as Bolivia, Peru or Ecuador, Ms Ross said.
"It was noted in the conference that Latin America has 70% anti-retroviral treatment," she said. "But that's Brazil. Bolivia cannot compare. We're too poor."
Before coming to Bangkok, she wanted to establish a Latin American presence in the conference. Unfortunately, she said, she found few delegates from that part of the world, maybe 20-30.
"But since I get a chance to speak at the closing ceremony, I can go back and tell people in my country that I did my best to draw attention to Bolivia and Latin America," she said.
Ms Ross, who became infected with HIV in 1996 through sex, is not sure from whom she contracted the virus.
"I was raped by two strangers when I was 20 while going home after school. This experience changed my life forever. I lost my self esteem, and started to become involved in sexual activity and heavy drinking without knowing the risk of being infected, until I found out one day that I tested HIV positive," said Ms Ross.
"I knew if I kept doing this, I'd die, so I decided to quit drinking forever. Being HIV-positive made me understand the value of my life," she said.
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