I would like to share with you a sad but also very interesting and hopeful story. In my daily routine activities as a Mother Champion, I was fortunate to meet one pregnant mother who came to the clinic for antenatal services as is the case for all pregnant women.
I met my client when she came to get antenatal services on her first visit. After all other pregnancy services, she also received counseling and testing for HIV, and then she was diagnosed with HIV. She cried a lot and blamed herself, she didn't see reason to live again. Worse, she began to self-stigmatize and isolate herself from her peers, she began to live with extreme anxiety, thinking HIV was a death sentence.
She was started on treatment and after a very short time decided to stop claiming that the community around her was ashamed of her taking drugs. I was very sad but I did not give up on her. I continued to advise and educate her that she can raise a child who is HIV-negative, and can live without fear and stigma. I visited her at home regularly as a friend so that I could develop a close bond with her.
Gradually she began to change and accept her condition and resume the use of ART, and to adhere to the education I provided her with regards to HIV and health in general.
Interestingly, she used the drug very well based on the instructions given by the Health care providers, which led to her giving birth to a child with no HIV infection which she had not expected. She now has faith that it is possible to live and raise a child who is HIV negative.
I was really happy because I was able to achieve my goal to a great extent by making sure I got her back in line and protecting her unborn baby, she is now living positively and is a good ambassador as well.
Today, she is healthy and supports her family by farming and her small business and hopes to expand her farm’s production. She also lends her support to other women who are coping with HIV and find it difficult to accept the situation.
“For me this is great news. I am very grateful to mother 2 mother for building my capacity so that I can help my fellow women and their future generations.”
