Jean Grey
Malawi
My name is Jean Grey and l am 49 years old. I was born in Zambia at Kitwe. We were 9 children in our family, 7 boys and 2 girls. I am the 4th born. All my parents were from here and they just went to Zambia to work. In 1983 , l left Zambia to come here to stay and l got married in 1991 and l was blessed with 5 children; 2 boys and 3 girls.
During my marriage, my husband got sick in the year 2000 and we went to the hospital to get tested and he was HIV positive. By then we had to pay to buy treatment and because we did not have money, we failed to buy medication and he passed away the same year.
I started to get sick in 2005, l was just having breathless episodes and they decided to test me for TB and l was found positive for TB. As l was taking my TB treatment, they also tested me for HIV, and they found that l was HIV positive. They counselled me and gave me Bactrim and at the same time l was also taking medication for TB. After a month l started treatment, ARV and when l was discharged from the hospital going back home, l was stigmatized; people used to say l am a moving corpse, l was given my own bathroom to bath, l had my own plate, spoon and l was also eating alone. In community development activities, we were also side-lined, but l am grateful that ARVs gave me my life back and l am able to work. I also thank God l got married in 2007 again and l have 1 child with them who was born in 2011 and that child is free from HIV.