In 2021 GLOBCOM through the Global Fund HIV prevention program, identified Austin and Amani (husband and wife) as community resource persons tasked with supporting treatment care for people living with HIV who are on treatment. The two were recommended by Benga dispensary where they are attached. As community resource persons, the duo were taken through numerous capacity building trainings by the GLOBCOM before being tasked with defaulter tracing. The two have stood out in their work! they are doing exemplary work while exhibiting dedication, commitment and passion that cannot be paralleled. They told their story to the team.
“In 2014 I suffered TB for a while and after numerous treatment efforts, I was tested and diagnosed with HIV. I was initiated on TB drugs and told to return to the facility once I was done with the drugs which I never did.’
At that time, I completely refused to be put on anti-retro viral drugs (ART) as I had declined to accept my HIV status. I was already in my second marriage by then, since my first wife had succumbed to AIDs related condition which I can now relate. She had left me with one child, a baby boy. I got married to her younger sister who was helping me by the my wife passed on.
My new, young and lovely wife, Amani, was forced to be the breadwinner of our family since I was bedridden and could not be able to work and earn a leaving for my family. All along, I did not open up this information to any one including my wife and to me, all was going on well as I presumed.
In 2015 my wife got pregnant and during her ANC clinic she was tested positive for HIV and also did not accept the results. After a few months she delivered and was given ART medication for the baby. “I administered the medication to my baby diligently till the baby graduated to be HIV negative.” Amani explained.
Austine continued with the story, “My wife upon seeing my condition deteriorating day by day and with the fear not to be in the same condition, decided to go and be started on ART. After a while, she gathered courage, sat with me and we together looked at our dreams in life and persuaded me to accept my condition and be initiated on ART. Accepting my HIV status, was the beginning of our leaving in reality and truth.”
Since Austine and Amani were leaving in Mombasa, they decided to move back to their ancestral home in Siaya start a new journey in their life.
Today, the duo have touched many lives, brought a big number of their peers to accept their health condition, overcome stigma and adhere to treatment. Amani has trained as an expert mother and she also supports the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission at Benga dispensary. This has enabled the facility to scale up the identification, linkage to care, retention and adherence of pregnant and lactating mothers who are on HIV treatment. Austin, on the other hand, is a Trainer of Trainers for treatment literacy in the sub county and has mentored a good number of peer educators to cascade the work.
The duo makes a perfect match. They are also working to see male involvement in supporting pregnant and lactating mothers who are on HIV treatment. The duo tag each other along as role models which has greatly influenced the PMTCT intervention in Benga community as a whole and helped in reducing case of intimate partner violence (IPV) attributed to treatment issues.
Austin together with his wife Amani are founders of a patient support group which runs as a self-help group in their community. The support group has ventured into a number of Income Generating Activities which include; making soap, detergents, poultry farming among others.
“During our group meetings, we secure some time to train members on treatment literacy and other sessions with an aim to make every member overcome stigma related with HIV and adhere to treatment. We have plans to initiate more support groups in the neighboring facilities as well.” Austin explained
“We are so happy that GLOBCOM identified us and brought us to support their project. We want to encourage those living with HIV like us, that they should not lose hope. Instead, they should use their condition to unlock the unlimited opportunities that come with positive living. We want to appreciate GLOBCOM and encourage them to continue project like these because they have given us the platform and capacity to help others using ourselves as example.” Austine and Amani
