95.
Her family unit consists of her son and daughters Christian Alexander, Emma
Elizabeth and Iris Carolina, all Chij Vicente, her grandmother Olivia Aguilar Ambrosio de
Barillas and her grandfather Balbino Barillas Barreno, her uncle Héctor Barrillas and her
maternal aunt Olivia Barillas de Sánchez 357.
B.34. Sandra Lisbeth Zepeda Herrera
96.
Mrs. Zepeda Herrera lives in the municipality of Guatemala, department of
Guatemala, Guatemala. She was born on September 30, 1968. She completed second year
of basic education. She worked as a street vendor in the markets. She was diagnosed with
HIV on January 6, 2000, in the San Juan de Dios General Hospital, when she was seven
months pregnant and transmitted the virus to her daughter. In 2002, she was referred to
MSF, where she received treatment, but there was a scarcity of antiretroviral drugs and she
did not undergo CD4 counts. On May 13, 2004, she began antiretroviral treatment again in
MSF’s Yaloc Clinic, and she was tested periodically for viral load and CD4 count. In 2007,
she was referred to the Marco Antonio Foundation where she continued to receive
antiretroviral treatment. In 2009, she was transferred to the Luis Ángel García Clinic, where
both she and her daughter continued to receive antiretroviral treatment and she has
undergone CD4 counts and viral load tests, although, at times, this has not been possible;
moreover, they have not been provided with medicines for other illnesses. She has suffered
from the opportunistic disease of lipodystrophy.358
97.
Mrs. Zepeda Herrera indicated that the treatment she received from the health
personnel of the San Juan de Dios Hospital was not very friendly and that, at times, there
were no drugs, so that she had to buy them. She stated that, in the Luis Ángel García Clinic,
the medical staff showed an interest in her health and provided her with satisfactory
treatment. Before being diagnosed, she was employed in the “Fashion” maquila plant, but
was dismissed when she reported her diagnosis. Currently she finds it difficult to obtain
employment because she is asked to provide her health card and undergo testing; she also
has to request leave to attend her medical check-ups and companies find this difficult, “they
ask a lot of question, which even results in harassment.” She therefore makes a living
selling various products in the markets of Guatemala City. Her family also rejected her, so
that she has lacked financial support, and is unable to pay for the schooling of her daughter,
who has had to work with her so that they can both eat. 359
98.
Her family unit consists of her sons Jorge Eduardo, Josué David, Brandon and
Antonio, all Zepeda, her daughter Katherine Alejandra Girón Zepeda, and her partner José
Luis Girón (deceased).360
Calderón through interviews in November 2010 (evidence file, folio 12786), and the State’s report of February 14,
2012 (evidence file, folio 1325).
357
List annexed to the IACHR Merits Report of April 13, 2016 (evidence file, folio 12771).
Affidavit prepared by Sandra Lisbeth Zepeda Herrera on December 15, 2016 (evidence file, folios 11543
and 11544); power of attorney granted by the victims to the representatives by a deed of January 23, 2017
(merits file, folio 225); expert opinion provided by Ricardo Boza Cordero at the public hearing held before the Court
and written report on this opinion (merits file, folios 1486 and 1487); IACHR file on precautionary measures
(evidence file, folio 11219); report del Dr. Mario García, from the Marco Antonio Foundation of January 29, 2008,
on the medical care provided to Sandra Elizabeth Herrera Zepeda (evidence file, folio 1063), and The State’s
report of March 23, 2009 (evidence file, folio 915).
358
Affidavit prepared by Sandra Lisbeth Zepeda Herrera on December 15, 2016 (evidence file, folios 11543,
11544, 11545 and 11546).
359
360
Affidavit prepared by Sandra Lisbeth Zepeda Herrera on December 15, 2016 (evidence file, folio 11543).
113