HIV&AIDS Home Based Care 2

Tigist Degeve, the 22-year-old HIV community worker for ProPride leads us to a small door in a labyrinth of steep little streets where cars cannot drive through. Behind the door is a 1-bed house the size of a double bed, plus the width of a small single bed beside it. Against the wall we find a bench to talk to a friendly and smiling Amarech Seifu and her pretty daughter Kalkidan. The 35-year-old Amarech lives in this house with her husband and their only child. Amarech tested HIV positive a year ago and receives regular medical support from ProPride. Her husband is also infected, although he has not been tested, they know by the opportunistic infections that plague both of them equally.

Amarech explains how she suspected herself to be infected and how she found help from ProPride. “I was getting ill a lot and I had heard about this disease. I knew that I could be HIV positive, so I told my sister first of all, who came with me to the hospital to have a test. When the test came back positive I told my brother, he has a good job and I hoped that the social support scheme at his work would be able to help me. That was not possible, but the doctor at his work place referred me to ProPride. When I told my husband I was thinking of going for a HIV test he discouraged me, but I went anyway. When I came back with the result we were both shocked. He still doesn’t want to be tested, but he accepts the fact that we are both infected with the virus.”

“ProPride has helped us a lot. They provide great medical care and the medical kit they gave is gets refilled regularly. Most important for me are the meetings and the counselling. When I fist heard about my status I was sad and felt hopeless, now my mood is much better; I am no longer depressed and meeting other people with the same problem has really helped. I now have new friends and my anxiety has gone.”

“ProPride also trained my daughter Kalkidan in home-based care, and my sister is still in training.” Kalkidan explains: “the HBC training was for five days initially and every six months there is a refresher training. I learnt how to protect myself from infection when I dress wounds or clean up when someone has been sick. I also learn to be careful with cross infections; when I have a cold for example, I make sure I don’t pass it on to my parents.” 16-year-old Kalkidan goes to school every day. She is in 10th grade, 2 years away from completing her secondary education.

Her mother says proudly: “Kalkidan is a clever girl, she helps us a lot. We’re happy that ProPride has trained her, despite her young age. It has helped us as a family, not only in a practical way but also to accept the situation and deal with the stigma. The neighbours know but they don’t talk about it. The walls are so thin here, you cannot keep secrets and I don’t want to either.” 

Feedback

Print this page

Email to a friend