Faith A's Story

I…longed to work in the area of HIV. I realized how much people had helped me, and I wanted to do the same for others. Love, understanding and care for people living with HIV is important for lengthening lives.

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I was born in 1978, the firstborn to polygamous family of 3 mothers and 16 children. I completed secondary school in

1997. When I turned 18 I had a boyfriend. One evening my dad called a family meeting. He had heard rumors that my boyfriend was HIV-positive. My dad was angry and told me that my life was over and all the family could do was to give me food while I awaited my death. I asked my boyfriend who was sickly if he knew if he was HIV-positive. He said he did not know. I did not end our relationship, although I was very scared.

Later that year I received my admission to study law at university. Fortunately my father had changed, and to my surprise he took me to campus. My boyfriend died the following year and I decided to get tested for HIV. The result was positive.

When I went home on vacation from campus, life became almost unbearable. Mothers pointed fingers at me, warning their sons about me. Any man seen talking to me was considered dead. I heard one of my sisters tell my mum to chase me from home. When I think of that period, I know God was on my side or I wouldn’t have gotten through it.

Importance of VCT

When I met my current boyfriend in 2000, I told him that I was HIV-positive. He did not believe it and insisted that he loved me anyway. In 2002 I was admitted to the hospital with lung problems. We went for voluntary counselling and testing, and he finally believed my status. He was very sad but has stayed with me and continued to support me.

In 2002 my dad told me that he knew I had tested positive. He told me about an herbalist he knew, and I began taking herbal medicine, which has kept me very healthy ever since. I don’t look sick and people don’t believe I am HIV-positive.

I graduated from law school and worked in a law firm at first, but longed to work in the area of HIV. I realized how much people had helped me, and I wanted to do the same for others. Love, understanding and care for people living with HIV is important for lengthening lives. I also firmly believe that everyone should find out their status early so as to change their behavior, whether negative or positive.

What This Picture Tells You

I had seen other people’s body maps, and longed to do mine. So when the time came, I was filled with anticipation. It was a moment to look deep inside myself. The stars on my head and legs are symbols of my strength and the support I have and need. The red on my face shows the pain I feel when I am stressed and have headaches. My left lung is red because it was affected by disease. The worms are a symbol of the virus, leaving my lungs and moving to other parts of my body. Black dots stand for herpes. I have always seen myself as a bright, friendly person, so I have also used yellow. My shadow is orange because it’s my boyfriend’s favourite colour. The green on my stars is for herbal therapy; blue is for calm and the peace I feel when I talk with people. White expresses the spiritual aspect of my life. Pink shows the support I get from others, and finally I have used black for my nature as a black person.