Alloys Emokori: "My life revolved around alcohol and women"

Alloys Emokori, 55, is a recovering alcoholic in the western Kenyan town of Busia, near the Kenya-Uganda border. Diagnosed with HIV in 2004, Emokori has lost five wives. He told IRIN/PlusNews about his battle to overcome alcoholism.



"My life revolved around alcohol and women. Due to alcohol, I lost four women who left because they could not tolerate my drinking; another of my wives died of HIV. Some of my wives also drank, and we would fight all day. For one of my wives, we were even competing in drinking and sleeping around. She had her lovers and I had my own.



"Today I am alone, taking care of the children my wives left behind.



"It was only when I became too sick to even walk that my children decided to take me to the hospital by force. I was told that I had HIV, but still I lived in denial.



"A friend eventually convinced me to start taking antiretroviral drugs and I agreed. But then as soon as I started feeling well, I relapsed back to heavy drinking and even abandoned the medicine. My health deteriorated badly. The community health workers helped and they made sure I was put on drugs again.



"One of my old drinking buddies who had abandoned booze and joined an alcohol counselling group would come to talk to me about joining the group. He never gave up, even following me to the pub, until I succumbed to his persuasions and joined him in one of the counselling sessions.

As soon as I started feeling well, I relapsed back to heavy drinking.

"With time I stopped drinking and became more dedicated to the counselling sessions - it has helped me a great deal. Today I counsel people on the dangers of drinking - and more so those who are like me, living with HIV.



"For those who knew me, I am testimony that alcoholism or drug abuse and HIV cannot share a bed. If they do, then they will conspire to kill you very fast.



"I look back at what alcoholism has done in my life and thank God for today, because my life could have turned [out] worse... at least I still live and care for my children."



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