Marta Sarlo

Carmela

Carmela was born on 3 July 1959 in Delianuova, a small town closed to Reggio Calabria. She spends a few years in Leverkusen, Germany, and then moves to Acqui Terme after her marriage. Her two children Francesco and Marisol were born there. In 1986 Carmela contracted the HIV virus following a relationship with her brother-in-law, with whom she will spend the next ten years of her life.

From the disease of “gay people and drug addicts” to the “Millennium Plague” capable of affecting everyone without distinction. Estimates made on the basis of data provided by the Ministry of Health indicate that in Italy there are currently 170,000-180,000 living HIV-positive people, of which about 22,000 infected with  AIDS, however one in four HIV-positive does not know that they are infected. From the information gathered by the surveillance systems, it appears that the characteristics of those who become infected with HIV today are completely different from those who became infected ten or twenty years ago. They are no longer young people and predominantly drug addicts, but rather mature adults who become infected through unprotected sexual relationship (mostly heterosexual). Therefore, the average age of people who contract the virus changes, which now exceeds 40 years, with an increase among women that represent half of the patients. Since 1997 there has been a progressive decline in deaths, which in 2007 were about 200, a consequence of the new antiretroviral therapies, which have contributed to transforming AIDS into a chronic disease. Today people infected with AIDS go to school, go to work, we can make plans for the future. Thanks to medical drugs the life expectancy increased from twenty to thirty years. Carmela was born on 3 July 1959 in Delianuova, a small town closed to Reggio Calabria. She spends a few years in Leverkusen, Germany, and then moves to Acqui Terme after her marriage. Her two children Francesco (30 years) and Marisol (25 years) will be born there. In 1986 Carmela contracted the HIV virus following a relationship with her brother-in-law, with whom she will spend the next ten years of her life. It is only in 1996 that Carmela discovers to be HIV-positive and a year later, following the death of her partner due to the degeneration of the disease, the thought of her children encourages her to start the cycle of treatment. After spending the last seven years as a guest in a family home for people with AIDS, Carmela currently lives in Rome with her daughter Marisol.

A family portrait in the house of her mother. Carmela is the second from the left. Just married, Carmela moved to Piedmont. She and her husband had two children. Carmela was infected in 1986 when she fell in love with her brother-in-law, for whom she left her husband. Acqui Terme, Alessandria, Italy, 2010
Carmela in one of the corridors of the Roman hospital San Camillo Forlanini as she waits for a medical examination. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela in her bedroom. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela resting in her bedroom. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela inside the Roman hospital Lazzaro Spallanzani. She has to undergo various checks and blood tests every month. This facility is a reference point for HIV patients. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela in the chapel inside the Villa Glori family home. This family home run by Caritas gave shelter to Carmela for seven years. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela in the bathroom of her house. After spending seven years in a family home, she has been living with her daughter Marisol. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela’s 51 first birthday. Rome, Italy, 2010
Carmela during a walk in the garden of the Villa Glori family home. This family home run by Caritas gave shelter to Carmela for seven years. Rome, Italy, 2010
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela waiting for a bus to go to the doctor, for a medical check
Rome, October 2010 - A detail in the Carmela's bedroom - In spite of the disease, for Carmela the body care and dressing well it's fondamental
Rome, October 2010 - The necklace with a picture of Carmela. Carmela's mate used to wear it - Carmela was infected on 1986 when she fell in love with her brother-in-law, with whom she's been living for ten years of her life. Only on 1996 she discovers the HIV-infection of her mate. He'll die a year and half after. On 1997 Carmela starts treating herself for her sons' love
Acqui Terme (Alessandria), September 2010 - Carmela in the living room of her mother's house - Carmela was born on July the 3rd 1959 in Delianuova (Reggio Calabria). She lived in Leverkusen (Germany) and, just married, she moved to Acqui Terme, in Piedmont. With her husband she had got two sons, Fransesco, 30, and Marisol, 25
Acqui Terme (Alessandria), September 2010 - Carmela in the living room of her mother's house, playing with her grandson
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela in her bathroom - Nowadays AIDS is transmitted by sex in the 80 per cent. In Italy each day eleven people get HIV virus. The number of infections is growing. Institutional prevention is not enough and not according the international system
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela and her daughter Marisol at home, in the bedroom, relaxing
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela inside the hospital Lazzaro Spallanzani. Each month she has to undergo some medical check-ups and blood tests. This unit is a reference point for HVI patients in the city of Rome - Carmela having relax
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela in one of the corridors of the Italian hospital San Camillo Forlanini, while waiting for a medical examination
Rome, July 2010 - The cake that Carmela's daughter has bought for Carmela's birthday - Carmela was born on July the 3rd 1959 in Delianuova (Reggio Calabria). She lived in Leverkusen (Germany) and, just married, she moved to Acqui Terme, in Piedmont. With her husband she had got two sons, Francesco, 30, and Marisol, 25
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela with her daughter Marisol. Carmela was infected on 1986 when she fell in love with her brother-in-law, with whom she's been living for ten years of her life. Only on 1996 she discovers the HIV-infection of her mate. He'll die a year and half after. On 1997 Carmela starts treating herself for her sons' love
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela during a walk in the park of the "Villa Glori" residential treatment centre for AIDS patients, where she's been living for seven years
Rome, July 2010 - Detail of the Carmela's bedroom
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela in her living room with her daughter Marisol. Carmela was infected on 1986 when she fell in love with her brother-in-law, with whom she's been living for ten years of her life. Only on 1996 she discovers the HIV-infection of her mate. He'll die a year and half after. On 1997 Carmela starts treating herself for her sons' love
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela inside the hospital Lazzaro Spallanzani. Each month she has to undergo some medical check-ups and blood tests. This unit is a reference point for HVI patients in the city of Rome - Carmela during a medical examination
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela going out from home - For a few years she lives with her daughter Marisol, 25, since she left the residential treatment centre where she lived for seven years
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela taking pills fot the daily therapy to fight HIV virus
Rome, July 2010 - Carmela in the living room, at home, in a moment of tiredness. For a few years she lives with her daughter Marisol, 25, since she left the residential treatment centre where she lived for seven years