Moe Moe San is an AHF Myanmar client. Her story is next in our “I Am AHF” series featuring remarkable staff, clients, and partners who are doing what’s right to save lives everyday.
My name is Moe Moe San. I’m 51 years old and live in Yangon. I was first diagnosed with HIV in 2000, after contracting it from my husband. At that time, it felt like a nightmare. I became deeply depressed and did not leave my house for six months.
With encouragement from my colleagues, I eventually joined peer education sessions, rebuilt my confidence, and started antiretroviral therapy (ART). Accessing treatment wasn’t easy—I had to go through multiple counseling sessions alone and with my family to ensure I could take my medicine consistently. But with the support of my mother, family, and friends, I found the strength to stay resilient.
I’ve now been living with HIV for more than two decades, faithfully taking ART throughout. In December 2023, I unexpectedly met my old friend Yu Yu, who works for AHF Myanmar. During our conversation, she shared that her organization provides cervical cancer screenings for women living with HIV.
The past year had been particularly tough—I lost a lot of weight and struggled to eat properly. Despite this, I had never considered getting screened for cervical cancer. Encouraged by my friend’s words, I decided it was time to take that step.
Yu Yu organized a group of women from our community, making it easier for us to access these critical services. She personally escorted us to the hospital for cervical cancer screenings. During my visit, a compassionate obstetrician-gynecologist conducted a thorough examination and collected a Pap smear specimen.
A week later, Yu Yu reached out with the results, my test showed early signs of cervical cancer. I was shocked by this news. She urged me to return to the hospital for further investigations and treatment. After additional evaluations, I was diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer. My journey to recovery began with a gynecological operation to remove my womb, fallopian tubes, and ovaries in January 2024.
After surgery, my condition gradually improved, and my appetite returned. It wasn’t an easy road, but today I’ve completed all my treatments. I’ve regained weight and am back to managing my household with energy and determination. I also share my experiences with colleagues, encouraging them to take care of their health with regular checkups.
I am deeply grateful to AHF and my loved ones for their support throughout this journey. If I had not joined AHF’s cancer screening program, my cancer would not have been detected early—and by now, I might have been in a much more serious stage or even lost my life.
To other women living with HIV, I want to say this: go for cervical cancer screening as early as possible. The earlier it’s detected, the better the chances for successful treatment and long, healthy lives.
