John Bichunda talks about living with HIV/AIDS and how, with the help of HIV counselling and testing, his life has changed for the better.
"I am a widower living with HIV/AIDS in Kyampogola, Uganda. I take care of five children. One day, a member of the village health team brought some staff members from AMREF to my house to find out how I was faring with the children, whose mother had died of HIV/AIDS in 2005.
"By the time AMREF reached me, I was bedridden. I had given up on life. I felt isolated and excluded from all life outside my mud and wattle house. I stayed indoors most of the time. Yet I had children who needed my care. I was confused and worried.
"When the AMREF village volunteers visited my home I gave them a cold reception. I thought they were interfering in my private life, just like many other people who had come to my house only to mock the next day in the entire village. This really stigmatized me! I was therefore skeptical about the intentions of any visitor.
"However, I realized that the AMREF team did not give up on visiting me and encouraging me to access HCT services in order to establish my HIV status since my wife had passed away and we had not established what killed her.
"After counseling and encouragement, I decided to go for HIV/AIDS counseling and testing (HCT) during one of the outreaches in our village. The results were positive. This shocked and hurt me, but I was strong because I had found a friend in the AMREF team to counsel me and stand by me in the difficult moments. I accepted my situation and started taking care of my household, cleaning my compound. I even built a latrine when I gained some strength.
"I was lucky to benefit from a rainwater harvesting jar because I needed it badly due to my health. I got a new lease on life and became an active member of society. My strength has been restored. I grow food and rear animals for my family. AMREF linked me to the National Agricultural Advisory Services which assisted me to start an apiary. My big son also burns charcoal during holidays which contributes to the household income and also helps me access treatment.
"Today, I feel in control and hope to survive for a longer time so as to care for my children. They still need my moral support and love."
"AMREF supports Ms Teresa Tibebuuza, a counselor who regularly visits my home and counsels me. She refers me to the hospital when I need treatment. The counselor sometimes escorts me to hospital to access treatment; the health workers there recognize that I am an AMREF beneficiary. Teresa also connected me to a mission hospital where I access food rations to improve on my health.
"I have learned to live positively. I talk to my children about protecting themselves against HIV/AIDS. I also talk to my neighbors to stick to their partners. I do not wish any one to get this deadly disease. I have opted to give myself as a living example to learn from, I share with many people the experience of living with HIV, and I don’t want to see other people go through what I experience as a result of HIV/AIDS.
"The brighter side of life is that I am no longer discriminated against in the community, but rather seen as a normal person with a heart for others. My family is happy, the children are glad that my health has improved and they are in school with the support of AMREF. But most of all they are conscious of HIV/AIDS. I believe they will manage to overcome the AIDS scourge since they have seen the trouble I am going through. Today, I feel more comfortable knowing that even if I passed away anytime, their studies and health will not be terminated and their dreams of a bright and better future will be realized.
"The HIV/AIDS sensitization carried out in the community, as well as supporting HCT outreaches, has enabled many of us to access these free services to establish our HIV status."