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Colossus

Malawi

I am Colossus and l come from Kaphuka Village, traditional authority Kaphuka in Dedza. I was found with HIV in the year 2013. What happened was, l once got tested in the past and l was HIV negative. As l was young, l got married to a lady who was once married but their marriage had ended and then she got married to me. As l married her, because of ignorance l got married to her without first being tested together.  She eventually got pregnant and when we went to start ante-natal clinic at the Mphati Clinic, both of us were found with the virus.

I started taking medication and during that time we were given what we call a starter-pack and we took the medication together with my wife and then we were given medication, which was then called 5A. I have taken this medication for a long time and from the time l was first found with HIV, my life completely changed because when l was a youth l never had HIV and it took me time to accept it. When l got married, that is when now l was found HIV positive. I was disturbed psychologically, you know back in the days when you were found HIV positive, it was really a difficult thing. And when people in your village know that you are HIV positive, it was even more difficult. People would stigmatize you and discriminate against you. And other activities in our communities, we would not know they are happening because we were HIV positive. However, l refused to be a failure so l was vigilant in taking my ARVs and l would educate others.

Since that time, l made 2 important decisions, to stop taking my education at Mphati and move to Dedza District Hospital and after analysing how my wife was then, it was difficult but l braved up and moved considering the problems l was facing at Mphati Clinic. Unfortunately, my wife died and therefore l decided to move from Mphati village, but l was getting my medication at Dedza District hospital. When transport was a challenge for me receiving my medication at Dedza District Hospital, because by then l had moved back to my home village from Mphati Village. It was difficult for me to be traveling to Dedza District hospital and therefore l took a transfer and l was registered at Kaphuka Health Centre.