Faith: "My greatest birthday present was my CD4 count reaching 500"

Faith is a member of the Ariel Children's Club, a group for HIV-positive children supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF). She talked to IRIN/PlusNews about the challenges of growing up with HIV.

"Before I knew about my HIV status I used to be very sick with skin rashes, on-and-off fevers, cough, and diarrhoea. In 2000, when I was nine years old, I tested and was told that I was HIV-positive. My CD4 count [which measures the strength of the immune system] at the time was only 39.

"By 10 years of age I had had seven hospital admissions for severe pneumonia; I had also had TB [tuberculosis] and meningitis. It was then that I was referred to Kampala-Mengo [Joint Clinical Research Centre] for further treatment.

"In 2001, I was started on antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. It was hard to get used to taking drugs daily; however, I was able to get back to school and study.

"Everything was okay until I went to boarding school [two years later]. There was a lot of stigma and discrimination, especially by the matron and some children, who made life impossible for me.

"Children ask questions: they ask about the skin rash, why I go to hospital. You sometimes tell them lies, but for how long can you lie? Not forever.

"I could not adhere [to my treatment regimen] because of fear of being seen taking the drugs. Timing was also difficult [ARVs have to taken at the same time every day]. During my second term I fell very sick, as I developed treatment failure [the virus became resistant to her medication].

"The drugs I was taking changed and now there were seven or eight tablets a day; they were difficult to swallow. In 2007 I changed to Alluvia [another ARV drug]. The drugs are smaller in size and easier to take.

"I thank those who are helping children, to give us life. The children's support group [Ariel Children's Club] has helped me a lot in coping with stigma and adherence.

"Before I joined the group, apart from other people stigmatising me, I also used to have a lot of self-stigma because of what I have gone through.

"But in the club we learn many things: how to face challenges and get solutions, how to deal with stigma and discrimination at home, at school and in the community. We also have fun activities - we dance, play and laugh.

"I am also helping other children to cope with their HIV status and stigma. I use my personal experience to teach them about adherence; I emphasise the importance of taking drugs on time and according to doctor's instructions.

"On 22nd July, on top of cutting a cake, I got the greatest birthday present ever: my CD4 count was 500 for the first time."

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