Stop the Cycle of HIV: Support Women and Children!

16-year-old Mark who is living with HIV has been receiving his medications from Alive Medical Services for the past four years, starting when he was 12 years old. When Mark was only 4 years old, both of his parents passed away from AIDS, leaving his grandma to raise him.
“I have been taking my medications to make me better and I have to take them every day to make sure I do not get sick. I just occasionally have a headache or a cold; I don't get sick too often. I am also capable of participating in all the activities my peers undertake, including playing football and participating in certain theatre projects.”
As a teenager, Mark has learned to keep it a secret to himself at school by remaining active so that he is not forced to tell his peers about his medical condition. He has been taking his medicine faithfully, as evidenced by the viral load testing performed every six months. He is virally suppressed and he is undetectable.
"I am blessed to have supportive family members, like my grandmother and aunt, who always give me reminders of who I am and who I can be in the world and they constantly motivate me to realize my full potential. By the way, I play soccer well, and I want to use that gift to achieve more.”
Mark is enthusiastic about the future and does not see HIV as a barrier to his life goals. He aspires to be a pharmacist and believes he should serve as an example of how to use medication correctly.
“At Alive Medical Services, I like all the nurses and doctors there, they give me medication free of charge, they understand me as a young teenager, and push me to my life goals. As a young teenager who is looking into getting a family someday, I am educated about sexual reproductive health and having a safe relationship when that time comes. I am not really in a rush to have a family; I desire to do it the right way and at the right time.”
“I want to show young people living with HIV that we should put HIV aside and concentrate on the next steps of life. We are not any different from anyone else we live around.”
As a young man growing into a young adult and living with HIV, Mark has had challenges as well and it hasn’t been a perfect ride. But today, because of the kindness of donors and supporters like you, Mark is getting the medical care, food, and emotional support he needs to flourish as he persues his aspirations.
Alive Medical Services works in over 30 districts around the country and strives to be there for young people living with HIV just like Mark, offering prevention, comprehensive care, treatment and support while helping educate them along with their families to keep supporting them. The facility is creating a world in which children and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS can live healthy and free. Just like Mark, they can live positively and productively without any fear of any forms of stigma and discrimination.

"I was told that I needed to see a therapist, which I found strange, and I was worried that I was going insane. But when I eventually sat down with them, it was like a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders." *Jalia's testimony
In Uganda, a recent meta-analysis found a depression prevalence of 31 per cent among people living with HIV, and 15.5 per cent alone are women. Mental health is important. People living with HIV will still experience the full depth and breadth of strong human emotions. This can affect ones self-esteem and silence ones hope for a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life.

42-year-old Jalia transferred from another hospital to Alive Medical Services in 2011 because of her transportation expenses and a new environment. Jalia started experiencing symptoms of depression such as persistent tiredness, weight loss, insomnia, cramps, and physical pains. Jalia shared a home with her sister and three children. After her sister went to work in the Middle East, Jalia was evicted. She was unemployed and could not cover the rent payments alone. Soon she stopped adhering to her medication.

“I started feeling very tired all the time, my body was like a huge luggage, the stomach pains made me think I had ulcers which wasn’t the case. I couldn't sleep on several occasions, I would literally be up the whole night, and on a few occasions I would oversleep. In most cases, this routine made me forget to take my medication. Because I consistently missed my medication, I was referred to a counsellor for intensive adherence counselling, where the counselor advised me to share some of the challenges I was facing. I had to be honest because I wanted the help and that is how I confided [in her] about a miscarriage I had way back in 2012 at 8 months which I didn’t share much about. I was jobless and one of my children was battling for his life in hospital because he had been involved in an accident. At times I thought it was all happening because I had HIV and I always asked God why it was me going through all that. It felt like I broke so many eggs in one basket and had nothing left to eat. The counselor talked to me about seeing a therapist which I found strange and I was worried I was going to become crazy. To be honest, I just accepted so that I’d leave the clinic and go back home".

"The therapist took me through the first session, we shared more than I even expected. I remember I was given one small tablet which she advised me to take while I was going to sleep, and that night I remember it was one of the best nights I had in a long time, I slept with a lot of peace and confidence. From that day I acknowledged that I needed emotional assistance and I have been keeping my appointments with the therapist without missing out on any of them. I am glad that I can now genuinely say I am fine, and I can smile as well. My son is getting well, I also started a vegetable business that assists me with affording the standard of living. If it wasn’t for Alive Medical Services to realize that I had depression, maybe I would have resulted to a mental break down unknowingly."

As part of our comprehensive health services, Alive Medical Services advances mental health awareness through a mental health clinic every Wednesday. We understand that depression negatively affects the quality of life of people living with HIV Poor mental health is linked to several negative behavioral and clinical outcomes such as more rapid HIV disease progression, poor adherence to HIV treatment, and risky sex. The work we do to care for our clients’ mental health is only possible because of you, our partners. Thank you so much.