By Dr. Pasquine Ogunsanya | Executive Director
“If only my mother had taken her medication and followed the doctors’ advice diligently, I would have been born HIV free.” Evelyn, who is now 15 years old and in primary six, says as we ventured into her life story that she was open to share.
“I was born with HIV, but my mother didn’t disclose my status to me until I was 10 years old. I thought she was joking as I was too young to fathom what she had told me. But not long after she fell very ill and was taken to Mulago Hospital where the counsellor delivering the results confirmed her fears -- she was HIV positive. From then on, she swallowed her medicine as instructed.”
Evelyn’s mother eventually succumbed to the disease and passed away in 2015. With nowhere else to go at the time, she was forced to live with her aunt who made her life impossible. She stigmatized her, reminded her about her condition daily and told her to stay away from her children.
Evelyn kept her status a secret from her cousins with the fear that they would be afraid of her. However, it did not stay a secret for long; her aunt went on to let everyone know she was HIV positive. She even informed Evelyn’s teachers who eventually told the students.
“I had no friends because everyone was afraid to play with me or even talk to me. I spent most of my time reading,” Evelyn says. The stigma overwhelmed her, and she begged to live elsewhere. Lucky for her, her grandparents and her father took her in and made her feel welcome. Her grandparents protected her but were too old to provide enough.
“When I came to AMS I was surprised at how they cared for me and how welcoming they were to me. They fed me, gave me medicine and renewed my hope in living positively. One of the counsellors told me that if I did everything right, I would live a long and healthy life.”
Soon after Evelyn joined the Victors Club where she took part in activities for the youth and children which made her feel at home. “At AMS we look after each other like family. In the Victors Club we advise each other, dance and share all we have together. During the youth days we celebrate life and enjoy being young while learning more about how to take care of ourselves as young people living with HIV.”
When asked what advice she would give to others, Evelyn said, “I would advise mothers who are HIV positive to adhere to their medication and to do all they can to keep their children from contracting HIV.”
And most importantly, “Take your medication and do not allow stigma to wear you down.”
As for the future, Evelyn shared, “I want to become a doctor so that I can help the children living with HIV just like Alive Medical Services has helped me.”
Just like Evelyn, all adolescent girls and young women living with HIV who come to AMS are not only given free holistic HIV care, but they are also empowered with knowledge and given services on sexual and reproductive health to ensure that an HIV-free generation is not only a dream. All this and more has been made possible through generous donors like you and for that, the Alive Medical Services family thanks you.
By Dr. Pasquine Ogunsanya | Executive Director
By Dr. Pasquine Ogunsanya | Executive Director
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