<Ed. note: I asked Regina to share some thoughts re. living on the front lines of the battle against AIDS. Attached are excerpts from what she sent me.>
WORLD AIDS DAY: NAKURU 3:16
Infected 3:16 Women/age ……. Name and age of child / HIV status
Lucy Wanjiru 25 Cecelia Wambui 6 / Negative
Esther Wambui 25 Fauzia Njoki 2 / Positive
Esther Njeri 20 Daniel Mwaniki 3 / Negative
Veronicah Wanjiku 20 Marcus Mungai 4 / Negative
Ann Wanjiru 22 Rachael Njeri 1 / Positive
Esther Muthoni 21 none
Esther Akai 21 none
Lydia Muthoni 16 Pregnant 4months
<ed. note: Lydia, Veronicah, and Ann pictured below.>
Living with HIV is traumatizing. Especially when friends and family are not aware, as in the case of most of these girls. They are most afraid of their friends finding out than the disease itself. Enemies of these girls use that against them most of the time and abuse them very badly (for those who already know). The last stages are horrific, just in a few hours the body is totally wasted away.
On the other hand, HIV can be controlled and maintained in that if one exercises, eats well, and follows the doctor’s advice, and avoid stressing, one can live longer. Counseling and support groups also help a great deal in giving hope and courage and strength to go by day by day. HIV is not a death sentence there are worse diseases than HIV.
The girls have access to the drugs and blood tests for the level of white blood cells (CD4 count) through the PCEA Nakuru West Health Centre and the Global Fund for free. Treatment of other ailments and opportunistic infections is becoming a challenge. The medical expense has gone up.
I used to volunteer with the members of Badili Mawazo Support Group (a group living positively with HIV/AIDS), and I admired their confidence, courage and acceptance of their status. They had accepted their situation to the extent that they joke about it “My virus is more deadly than yours if it were in a football team it would play against a whole team and still no chance of defeat. I was shocked and impressed at the same time. Acceptance is the first and most vital step.
Testimonies from some of the girls
Esther Njeri
Before I dint know that I was HIV positive when I went to the provincial general hospital and I was very ill then I was tested and counseled on what to do after my results. I was not shocked because I knew God is with me. I don’t take HIV too hard it’s just like another disease. Now that I am pregnant, I am a little bit stressed and worried for my baby. But the doctor advises that if I follow the doctor’s advice my baby can be born negative.
Esther Muthoni
When I knew I was positive I was very shocked but then someone came into my life and encouraged me. She told me that I can live positively with HIV. I know that God loves us all because everyone can be infected it’s just like tripping. I took a step and went for further testing and knew my cd4 count. Now I have access to drugs. I was also advised not to abuse drugs like cigarettes, alcohol, and bhang. Thanks to the Lord for restoring my life to this day.
Lucy Wanjiru
I started getting ill and I was admitted and they had to test me and I was found to be HIV positive. I was very worried as to how I will break the news to my brothers and my husband. I continued to go to the hospital for counseling on how to take the drugs and dietary needs and avoid stress which can kill me; I had threatened to kill myself. I was advised on how to live without bad thoughts, so that I can help raise my siblings and my baby. I met the Nakuru 3:16 project; they helped me with a place to live, sleep and food. I think it’s great because I am not stressed and still continuing with the drugs. God has helped me and reduced my stress. I also took my baby for testing and I am very glad that she is negative. I am the first born among five and we are orphaned. I see myself just like anybody else and I Know that God will keep helping me and one day I will get saved and keep on praying for me. If I get a job, I will raise my baby and my siblings. I will become independent.
Veronicah Wanjiku
I decided to go to the voluntary counseling and testing and was tested and I was found to be positive. The doctor saw that I was shocked and he counseled me thoroughly on how to go forward. Now I live a stress free life for the sake of my baby. I stay with that courage so that I can see my future and my baby’s. God help us and give us longer lives so that I may see my great grandchildren. All those people reading this message pray and think about us. Be encouraged because you are doing a very good job.
Before I started working with these girls, I was so afraid of even the mention of the name HIV/AIDS. My stomach would crump at each mention. I had visited the Voluntary Counseling and testing centre only once and it was a night mare. At the waiting bay everyone was lost in their own world, some holding head without realizing the existence of the other. Every one entered in a small room for the news to be broken to them. Some came out smiling others frowned. Thank God I came out smiling! But what next, will that smile last or risk your life again, I asked myself. The thought of being HIV positive is unthinkable. Would I kill myself or would I rotate it. I would definitely kill me self, I thought.
When I met these girls and we found out their status together, I was scared to death but they were not. I kept praying to God to give me strength so that I may be able to be there for them and teach them. But do I believe in what I was teaching them. I dint at first I could have never done any of that, exercise, eat well, drugs knowing very well that am on the way to the grave. I kept praying to God and He gave me the strength but still praying so that I may handle if someone falls seriously ill because that’s the catch. A few weeks ago, a girl was very ill and in a night she was totally wasted. When I went there in the morning, I was horrified. It was my birthday on the 7th of November, 2008. I stayed with her in the hospital the hospital the whole day because I dint know what else to do. I begged the doctor to keep her for the night because its just an out patient clinic. He confidentially told me if he referred and there was any neglecting, she would die. I went home for the night and in the morning the doctor told me that she will refer her eventually. I couldn’t believe it but God came. When I went to the hospital in the morning I was given good news that she was doing well and she was discharged. Right then I knew I couldn’t afford to lose any one because I would break down.
I have learnt that it is not that bad to be HIV positive, if you accept and take responsibility of your life, everything will be fine. And this time I say it from the bottom of my heart, I believe it.