Subject: Helping others to overcome HIV challenges is my passion

Helping others to overcome HIV challenges is my passion

New Vision (Kampala) - November 3, 2009
Hope Mafaranga

http://www.aegis.org/news/nv/2009/NV091108.html

This year, to commemorate the World AIDS Day, on December 1, The New Vision, in conjunction with the parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDs, will award individuals, who have played a remarkable role in the fight against HIV in their communities. Profiles of the people nominated by the public will be published everyday until the end of November.

Kakyara, 35, has thrown all her might behind the HIV/AIDS fight.

Kakyara, a resident of Muhokya village in Kasese town, says her husband died of a strange disease in 1999. "Many people thought he was bewitched while others said he had a new disease that had invaded Kahendero fishing village," she recalls.

Kakyara says her husband was frequently treated for malaria but it persisted and he became weaker until he died. "We were too poor to afford a good meal to feed him yet he was frequently taking malaria drugs."

It never crossed anyone's mind that the strange disease that claimed the life of Kakyara's husband was AIDS. Kakyara, who lost her parents at the age of five, says her husband left her with a four-month-old baby.

She says she started falling sick in 2004 but she did not think she needed to go for an HIV test. However, in the same year, Kakyara tested for HIV after listening to Andrew Lumbuye, who was conducting a community sensitisation programme on HIV/AIDS in Muhokya.

"After listening to Lumbuye's talk, my eyes opened. I remembered the pain my husband endured before he died. I did not want to go through the same. I thought about my children and what I went through growing up as an orphan and I did not want them to go through the same. I decided to go for a test," Kakyara narrates.

She says even after she found out she was HIV-positive, Lumbuye encouraged her to work hard and sustain her children. "I worked hard, bought a plot of land and built this house for my children," she says.

Kakyara says she got a boyfriend in 2007 and conceived. Her health deteriorated and many people thought she would not deliver the baby. She did not go to a health centre for delivery but after seven months the child died.

Kakyara regrets her child's death and blames herself for having erred by ignoring Lumbuye's advice and not delivering from a health facility. In early 2008, Lumbuye enrolled her to get ARVs from Kasese Cobalt Company Limited (KCCL).

Her condition worsened but Lumbuye encouraged her to persist and avoid unprotected sex. "Lumbuye said he wanted me alive. I told him I was too weak and would die soon. He did not give up on me. I am now fine and healthy but he still checks on me."

Kakyara has now dedicated her life to sensitising others on HIV/AIDS through drama. Christine Masika, 29, says she had always suspected her husband to be cheating on her until he started falling sick frequently.

Masika recalls that her husband was always taking medicine without her knowledge. "I did not know he was on medication until I bumped into him taking tablets in hiding. I asked him and he became upset," she says.

Masika says she had tests seven times at local clinics but the results were negative. In 2004 she suffered from a strange sickness and went to Kilembe Mines Hospital, where she tested HIV-positive.

Masika says Andrew Lumbuye linked her to KCCL and she started getting ARVs in 2007, keeping her healthy. "When I was told my status I got worried. I could not afford transport to Kilembe Hospital to get drugs but Lumbuye put my worries at rest by offering me drugs. He also gives my daughter scholastic materials, reducing my financial burden," she says.

Lumbuye is a human resources manager at KCCL. Between 1993 and 1996 he was worked with Children Christian's Fund, where he was involved in activities concerning HIV-positive and orphaned children.

After witnessing a mother die in pain, leaving her son helpless, he decided to sensitise the public on preventive measures in addition to caring for those living with HIV/AIDS.

"I attended a funeral of a woman, who had died of AIDS. She was my client and her nine-year-old son used to call me uncle," he says. "After the burial, the boy called me and said: 'Uncle, mummy is gone; will you please take me along with you.' I was touched. I felt I needed to do something not only for this young boy, but also for those in a similar situation. I also felt if I had to relieve people, I needed to come out and fight against HIV by disseminating information on prevention," he says.

Lumbuye says when he started working with KCCL, he initiated a policy encouraging company employees to test for HIV. He is happy that at least 83% of the workers at KCCL have embraced the programme he initiated.

"At first, the workers thought they would lose their jobs if they tested positive. No one has been sacked and I am happy the company is meeting the cost of ARVs."

In 2003, Lumbuye started AIDS Orphans Bag (AOB) to look after children affected and infected by the epidemic. "AOB takes care of orphaned children so that they can go to school and have the basic necessities," he explains.

Lumbuye says AOB was formed by KCCL employees on World AIDS Day in 2003 to suppport HIV orphaned children. Lumbuye says the workers thought fighting HIV/AIDS without consoling and caring for the orphans leaves a gap in their lives.

"The members make a monthly contribution to the bag. We believe in honesty, transparency, care and trust," he says. Lumbuye says he also lobbies non-governmental organisations and well-wishers to donate to the children.

He adds that Health Initiative for Private Sector, an NGO, gave AOB sh10m, which he says was a turning point for the children under his care.

"I was looking after eight children only but with this funding, the number has grown to 150, including vulnerable children," he says.

Lumbuye also urges his colleagues to bring in old clothes for auctioning in order to help the needy children. "My colleagues bring in items, which we auction and management contributes the same amount to help the children," he says.

Lumbuye says he visited Muhokya, Kahendero and Hamukungu fishing villages in Kasese district and could not believe the high numbers of orphans and people living with the disease.

He formed Busala and Muhokya drama groups to sensitise the public on HIV. He also managed to convince the company management to consider providing free ARVs to the community.

Lumbuye says since October 2006, 1,923 people have been tested, 462 found positive and 108 access ARVs under the KCCL programme.

Lumbuye is grateful that the management of KCCL accepted to meet the treatment costs for the staff and the communities around. He, however, says the biggest challenge is poor feeding of people living with HIV/AIDS.

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