Esnart

I was born on 24th April, 1980 and I am the 7th born in a family of fourteen. My father died when I was 16 of AIDS. This was my darkest moment; my father was the bread winner of the family; he cared for my grandparents and almost everyone looked up to him. I wanted to complete my education but I now did not have any support. Just after writing my examinations I became pregnant and was forced to marry the man by my relatives. This man I married was HIV-positive. When baby was born he looked very healthy, but he died when he was a year old. I heard the nurses saying he was HIV-positive.  My husband later became sick. He developed TB and died from meningitis. I was 22.

But life goes on, I got formally tested and started treatment, I went back to school and started talking of HIV. I met a man whom I am now married to today; he is also HIV positive, we have been together for seven years now and have 2 children who are HIV negative. I am now working in a clinic as a peer educator and teach mother who to protect their babies from HIV – I too am saving lives; my dream is to become a nurse.