Edward Gene* lives in the sprawling slum of Kibera, in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. He is HIV-negative but his common-law wife, Josephine*, is HIV-positive. IRIN/PlusNews spoke to the couple.
"When we met in 2000, I didn't know Josephine was HIV-positive. We started living together and had a son later that same year. In 2003, she told me she was infected - I was so shocked - and I was sure I was also infected.
"Initially I refused to go for a test, but after three weeks I agreed, and we went together to the MSF [Medecins Sans Frontieres] clinic in Kibera. When the result was negative, my first reaction was denial.
So I went for another test at the AMREF [African Medical and Research Foundation] clinic; it also showed I was negative, but they said I should go back in three months for another test. Even the third test showed I was negative, so I finally began to believe it.
"We started using condoms when having sex, and we joined a research programme at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
"I never thought about leaving her, even when I found out. I just want to make sure she remains healthy. I hope I can find work to earn a good living and support her and our son.
Josephine:
"When we met, I didn't know I was HIV-positive. Even when I had my child, I didn't know. In 2002, a mobile VCT [voluntary counselling and testing unit] came around where we lived, so I went. I didn't suspect at all that I could be infected; I was healthy and had no reason to think so.
"When the results came I was so scared. I didn't tell Edward because I thought he would leave me and our child.
"I started attending treatment literacy [classes] and counselling, where they taught us about disclosure. During this time, I spoke to Edward a lot about HIV. I kept asking him what he'd do if he discovered he was HIV-positive; he always said he'd just move on and take ARVs [antiretroviral drugs]. After all, he would say, it is no longer a death sentence.
"One day I plucked up the courage to tell him. His reaction was, of course, nothing like he'd said it would be. He became so thin, and wouldn't go for a test for a few weeks. When he discovered he was negative, he didn't believe it. I still don't think he completely believes it; he keeps saying it'll show up in a test one day.
"Since then he has been by my side. He's the one who reminds me to take my medicine, and he is always scolding me when I eat the wrong food.
"We are really not thinking about another child, but that is mainly because our economic situation is very difficult; but at least we have our son."
kr/he
*Names have been changed
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