Provide HIV services to 13,000 Vulnerable Ugandans

48-year-old *Mercy* joined Alive Medical Services in 2008 when her sister who was already in care told her about the facility. At her previous facility, Mercy was quite not satisfied with the services provided.

“They only cared that you took your medication from your facility and not care about your wellbeing at all, sometimes asking random life questions is enough for someone to prove to me that they care. Much less my mental health wellbeing because I was going through a phase, my mother had just passed, I had just given birth to my first born as a premature baby. “Mercy narrates.

When Mercy was diagnosed in 2006, she took some time and was in denial to the fact that she was not adhering to her medication as directed. “No one seemed to care, so I also did what I felt was best for me. After all, all I thought was death.” Mercy shares.

Mercy initially felt and uncertainty about her future, asking questions like, would she be able to pursue the career of being a teacher as she always wished, would people judge her if she disclosed to them? But with the support of the health workers at Alive Medical Services, she realized that HIV was just a part of her life, not the end of it.

With support by the Nurses and Doctors at Alive Medical Services, Mercy became determined to live a fulfilled life. She committed to her health, followed her treatment plan, stayed active, and practiced self-care. As the years passed, she flourished not just in managing her health but also in her profession. Her dedication to her students made her one of the most beloved teachers in her school.

“I openly talk about living with HIV at school and surprising children who are also living with HIV come for advice from me and I teach them how I live life to the fullest. This continues to give them hope for their future. I always use my story to empower and educate them.” Mercy proudly shares.

Today, Mercy is a thriving teacher, a mentor and an advocate for HIV wellness. She continues to inspire, not just through her lessons in the classroom but through her story of courage and perseverance.

Thanks to supportive platforms like GlobalGiving, Mercy is living proof that an HIV diagnosis doesn’t define a person, it’s what they choose to do with their life that truly matters. With the funding freeze from the USA we hope donors will continue to support life saving treatment.

Thank you

For 17 years of Alive Medical Services’ existence, many inspiring women have shared their journeys of resilience and achievement while living with HIV. This time we share the story of 47-year-old *Resty* who joined Alive Medical Services in 2008 as she had decided to transfer in from another facility, 9 months after she was confirmed to be living with HIV. When Resty received her diagnosis, her world was shaken because it wasn’t her expectation irrespective of the fact that she had been sickly all the time. Being a teacher by profession, she was worried about the stigma attached in case she disclosed to anyone she trusted, but she then decided to disclose to her sister.
“My mother had died during that time, the stress was just adding up, so I decided to talk to my sister because I was losing weight. My previous facility didn’t have so much to offer concerning our mental health wellbeing. Their concern was about us picking the medication. I disclosed to my sister.” Resty recalled.
To Resty’s great surprise, when she disclosed to her sister, she mentioned to her that she had been on medication for the past two years and that she was receiving her treatment from Alive Medical Services. “I was surprised, yes, but at the same time glad that I wasn’t going to be alone, and I thought for a moment she would judge me. In turn, I was enthusiastic to know how she managed emotionally.”
“My sister told me so much about Alive Medical Services, where she was receiving her treatment. For a moment, I was jealous! She told me how the health workers gave extra support, and it wasn’t about medication. She said they give a special touch,” Resty says as she smiles.
Resty made up her mind right away. She wanted to meet the famous Alive Medical Services that her sister talked about in one of those Telemundo series. She quickly organized her transfer to the facility.
“When I came here, the doctors wondered if I was even taking medication because my health situation was terrible. I had terrible ulcers, I puked blood, I was completely malnourished.” Resty shares with joy.
Within months, her health stabilized, and she was back to her energetic self. With time, she found strength not only in her recovery but also in the psychosocial sessions he had with the counsellors at Alive Medical Services. “Those sessions gave me hope and a new purpose. The care is enormous.”
As a teacher by profession, Resty uses her power to support children living with HIV in school indirectly. “During the health week, we usually talk about HIV and discourage stigma and discrimination amongst students and also encourage those living with it to have hope. I know we are always talking to one or two students we don’t know.”
Now in her 40s, Resty is just not surviving but thriving. She lives a balanced life, staying healthy and active, with HIV undetectable viral load thanks to her consistent ART regimen and viral load checkups done at Alive Medical Services.
Resty’s story reflects the experience of many people who face HIV, overcome the initial hurdles of stigma and fear, and transform their journeys into empowering success stories that inspire others.