Skip to content

Deadpool

Malawi

I am a widow with three sons, a nurse and a pastor. I tested HIV positive in 1992. I got it from my husband who had an STI while I was six months pregnant in 1986. Since that time, I had a recurrent problem of STl, resistant to antibiotics and as result I delivered a stillbirth. After this problem continued, I was treated every month with no improvement.

I’d not gone for HIV test because of stigma and discrimination. In 1992 when I took the courage to go for an HIV test, to know why I was not recovering from sickness. I was divorced because of sickness; I faced a tough time since it was my childbearing age. I didn’t tell anyone nor my parents for fear of disgrace until 2000 when I joined a group therapy at NASO. There, we learned survival skills such as stress management, acceptance, openness, a good diet and many more.

Life was hard because of frequent sickness and low income because the body needed more nutrients to cope with the situation. I thank God for helping me to pass through all these challenges though I showed already signs of AIDS I managed to Survive till 2003 when ActionAid volunteers donated money for me to buy ARVs.

I started treatment while my CD4 count was as low as 50. I was paying MK2500 every month, transport and food cost me MK2000. However, the first three months of treatment were crucial because I was hit by opportunistic infections, one after another. I was about to die but I managed to survive till now. I’m also taking cryptococcal meningitis treatment, am taking all drugs regularly, living just like anyone who does not have HIV. I call myself a long-term survivor.