When Jenny Lee Franciswas diagnosed with HIV six years ago, her life took a turn for the worse. Although she has come to terms with her condition and is handling the diagnosis much better now, she needs help to improve her standard of living.

The unemployed 45-year-old mother of six lives in a small house that has no proper bathroom facilities. She revealed that she once shared her neighbour's bathroom, but said she was forced to stop because of certain inappropriate situations.

She told THE STAR, "We usually use the neighbour bathroom, but we had to stop, so now we have no bathroom." She reluctantly admitted that she has to relieve herself outside, and added that were it not for a few sheets of plastic, the entire community would be able to watch her taking a bath.

"Bwoy, mi nuh tink nobody shoulda live so," she said. "We haffi a bathe outside and dem ting deh. There is a concrete building but it nuh have any windows or doors. It hard for us especially at night and wi haffi use plastic and block it out." Francis revealed that she saved some money and was able to purchase some bathroom fixture, but says she needs help putting it all together and finishing up the structure.

As if the indignity of not having a proper bathroom was not enough, Francis faces constant discrimination even in her own community. "It is hard for my kids to deal with," she said, "other children tease them and their schoolmates too. People in the community told my children that I was positive and they came and asked me about it." One of her sons has also decided not to return to school out of fear of being stigmatised. "You have people dat will see mi and point and seh tings like ' see di AIDS woman deh'."

While admitting that she has received assistance to fund her children's back-to-school expenses, she appealed for help to get her bathroom complete. "I'm getting help to send the kids to school. I want to make sure dem get dem education, but I just need like some zinc and other material to finish the bathroom. I have people dat can help me construct it."

Persons willing to help Francis can contact THE STAR or donate to Victoria Mutual Building Society account number, 20619383.

Name changed.