User:Wwwmatovu/sandbox

William Matovu An HIV Activist
I was born on 15th June, 1994. I was born with HIV and both my parents died when I was still young. I found out that I was born with HIV at the age of 14 in the year of 2008. Before knowing that I was HIV positive, I used to stay with my stepmom in Kasangati.

“I got sick very often with frequent tumors on my cheeks and other serious illnesses. The sister to my stepmom directed me to Kawempe Home Care but my stepmom always refused me to go. Eventually, I decided to go to Kawempe Home Care and reaching there, I found a very humble lady named Joyce. With all my health issues, she handed over me to a medical doctor and tested for HIV.

“Unfortunately, the results showed that I had the HIV virus. My CD4 was 296 and my viral load was high. I started Septrin, an antibiotic to protect my health because back then, Kawempe Home Care had no HIV medication.

“When I told Joyce about my life, she comforted me as if I was part of her family. She told me that HIV is not the end of this world and I don't have to blame my late parents. She offered the next day to go to the Joint Clinical Research Centre in order begin HIV treatment.

“I went back home and told my stepmom but she ignored me. The following morning I joined Joyce to travel to the Joint Clinical Research Centre while knowing that my stepmom had abandoned me.

“Reaching there, Joyce acted as my aunt In order to help me get sign papers to start HIV treatment. The Doctor saw through this and demanded a real care taker. That would be my stepmom. An HIV counselor, madam Joyce and I drove up to our home.

“When we arrived, we found my stepmom there. After long struggle and much debate the counselor convinced my stepmother to start my treatment.

“While she signed the paper to give me HIV treatment, she abandoned me for good. So in order to make a life for myself I completed O-level secondary studies in 2010 and I started doing some odd jobs to earn a living. By that time I was just 16 years old.

“With the help of Kawempe Home Care I went for a course in motor vehicle engineering and I graduated but eventually got a job at the Love to Love organization that supports orphans and children living with HIV. I became a peer counselor and acquired skills of leadership and management in the field of HIV over the last 5 years.

“The Love to Love organization and Kawempe Home Care have been there for me and I am so proud of myself. I will continue serving the needy people as well as sensitizing the community about HIV and stay focused on serving the orphans and vulnerable children at Love to Love Organization and the entire world plus encouraging people living with HIV to adhere well to their drugs and use of prevention measures in order to have an HIV free generation."