TESTIMONY BY BOSCO ON HIV/AIDS

My name is Lotukoi Bosco, 43 years old from Moroto district, Matheniko County, Rupa parish in Acholinn village.

Way back in 2005, is when I found out that I am HIV positive I used to experience constant cough that I could not understand, despite my effort to treat it there was no change, so I went to the hospital to test for TB, but the doctor suggested I test both TB and HIV of which I accepted, and both tests were done whereby later, the doctor called me in the counseling room and told me I was both TB and HIV positive.

I felt shocked, stressed and feared that I could die immediately, but the doctor counseled and advised me I would not die if I chose to take ARVs. I wondered what ARVs were and asked the doctor what he meant, the doctor told me that they are drugs called “Antiretroviral” drugs-(ARVs) which are good and can help people living with HIV/AIDS to stay longer. So I asked him to give me the drugs, he gave me TB and ARV drugs. Hence, each time I finished the dose of TB, the doctor gave me a certificate of completion which I received six times on relapse, from 2005-2020.

But when I shared my HIV status with my family, my wife was terrified and worried every time. But later, when she went for a HIV test and discovered she was HIV negative and a discordant, she then begun encouraging me to take my drugs and follow my appointment dates. I followed her advice; however, my children were young to understand the situation at the moment since, the eldest was only four years old. Afterwards, as time passed by, I got courage to disclose my status to them and even to the community members around me whereby they ended up supporting me. As a result, even those who were positive and hiding within my community came out seeking for guidance and counseling from me after observing and realizing how I was being free with the community, they also admired my life especially when NAFOPHANU organization and the sub county used me as an ambassador for the people living with HIV/AIDS in my village. The sub county linked me up to every organization which supported people living with HIV/AIDS whenever, they wanted to meet them for any relevant support.

The organizations such as; AAH, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS Forum (NAFOPHANU) and Later, MIFUMI and the sub-county of Rupa also supported Us whereby, I was coordinating Rupa and Acholinn villages. The only challenge the group had was that each time we formed groups and money was offered, the members would borrow money without refund or with prolonged refund dates. Thus, the group ends up dissolved and the funding ended. I got to know of Choose Life Home Based Care Services in 2012 when the office was still located in Cooperation and Development (C&D). Whereby, the sisters (Sr. Itae and Sr. Paulina) visited my village when they were doing their normal daily routinely home visit activity; to the people who were already registered by the office. I therefore, took a chance, approached them and shared my life experience with HIV/AIDS with them. Sr. Paulina, then asked me to join Home Based Care, whereby, I agreed and I was registered. After which, I was committed to the organization for 2 years and I was later appointed as a volunteer of Acholinn village until 2016. After a while, I became very sick, weak and even got admitted in Matany hospital for TB, I could not continue with work anymore even after I was discharged.

Herein, I would like to appreciate Choose Life Home Based Care for the support they give to clients and myself in particular especially in paying school fees for my children, giving food support, buying for me drugs that I am not able to afford including referring me to Matany hospital for required medication like X-ray scan, whenever I felt sick, checking on me through regular home visits, inviting me to the centre for educative meetings facilitated by community workers, counseling and encouraging me to adhere to my drugs, reduce stigma and completely stop alcoholism which was draining my life, also advised me to continue disclosing my status as a way of fighting new infections.

I would also like to appeal to Home Based Care to continue supporting clients the way they have been supporting since, most of us are very vulnerable and cannot afford food not to talk eating even two meals a day and at times even sleep hungry.

Therefore, the government, Non government organizations, private donors, and any other well wisher, should educate HIV positive clients on their rights and strengthen laws supporting HIV positive people in order to address the issue of discrimination and stigma which makes other people to fear and shy out from disclosing their status and thus, accelerating the rates of HIV/AIDS in the region.

Finally, I argue all of us out there together with Choose Life Home Based Care (CLHBC) to join hands in helping and empowering people living with HIV/AIDS in Moroto District in our various capacities through our deliberate contributions to extend out to them.

Thank-you very much, GODBLESS YOU!

Lotukoi Bosco. (Client-CLHBC).