IT took Norlela Mokhtar a harrowing few months back in 2000 to take the step that would change her life forever. About a year into her second marriage back in 1997, she decided to divorce her husband, her “first love”, who was an injecting drug user, after he refused to kick his habit.

Norlela, in the meantime, was trying to move on with life with her four children from a previous marriage.

“My stepmother was constantly urging me to get a HIV test. But I didn’t want to because the doctor that she recommended was my cousin,” she says. “I was embarrassed.”

Finally, after urging from friends, including one who she chatted with on the Internet and who worked with the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), Norlela finally decided to get tested at the then Universiti Hospital (now known as Universiti Malaya Medical Centre).

“My friend from MAC told me that I was at risk because of my husband, and I needed to get tested,” she recalls.

The initial test results came back positive and a subsequent one showed that she had a CD4 count of more than 600.

“I felt fine. There were no signs at all,” she says.

Because she did not need treatment at the time, Norlela continued with life as usual and had herself tested every so often.

Her CD4 count, however hit about 280 six years ago and she was advised to go on treatment.

“But I didn’t do so because I didn’t have enough money. And it was difficult because I had to look after my children on a salary that didn’t even reach RM1,000,” she says.

“I also was afraid to see the doctor because I thought he would ‘scold’ me.”

This led to Norlela’s condition slowly deteriorating until she landed in hospital with tuberculosis in 2005. “I spent two weeks in there and the CD4 count was only about 100,” she says, adding that she finally went on treatment. She reveals that her CD4 count is currently about 380, while the viral load is undetectable.

The feisty 45-year-old now works with the Malaysian Positive Network, which provides care and support for people living with HIV (PLHIV).

She is also a MAC treatment, care, and support executive.