Juliana

I am23 years old. I lost my mum when I was 3 and my dad when I was 4. I was brought up by my elder brother. I was always in and out of the hospital wards. That was basically my life. When I was 10, I was tested for HIV, the counselor said to me ‘God loves you so much Juliana, that is why today we have found the disease that has been so long with you and keeps taking you to wards – we can stop it so you can go to school every day.’ They told me there were drugs I could take every day of my life and I won’t have to go to hospital and I would not be sick anymore. So I decided if those drugs will help me and dry my wounds, no more TB, no more bronchitis and of course I will go to school, why not – I will take anything. That was my motivation.    

Today I have been trained in counseling and in early infant diagnosis, I work with other young people and children living with HIV, they see me as experienced and they want to know how I deal with it.  I am planning to continue my education and study social science.

I have struggle with discrimination, it is stupid but what people say in ignorance does hurt, if you can’t accept me leave me alone, don’t stigmatize me!