HEART TO HEART: STORY FROM PAUL AND MARIA

All this was due to stigma associated with HIV and AIDS pandemic” Paul and Maria said. “HIV positive people were regarded as outcasts in the society.

They were isolated, called different names and even finger pointed.” Maria also confesses that Paul’s condition changed the perceptions and stereotypes she had towards people living with HIV and AIDS. She also wanted to protect the family name since she loved her husband. Paulo and Maria were the first people in Malampaka village to be known as discordant couple, a situation where one spouse is HIV- while the other is HIV+.

Following the education obtained from the service providers, Paul and Maria have continued living together and have 4 children, all HIV negative with the youngest being 5 years old. The youngest child was born after Paul knew his HIV status. Paul is now working as a volunteer at the Care and Treatment Centre (CTC) in Malampaka HC and has been actively engaged in giving testimonies about his status, advising other HIV positive clients on positive living and has been assisting with tracing clients who are lost to attend treatment with special emphasis to children.

 From their experience Paul and Maria have learned:

• “That HIV and AIDS is everywhere and thus the need to accept the fact that it exists and maximum attention and caution should be given”,
• “ The need to strongly believe that its God’s plan for us to live as a discordant couple and that we should tell the story to the world for people to believe”,
• “AIDS is a normal disease, if one adheres to the measures taught on how to handle it, he/she shall live a normal life, get ill just like any other person in the society”,

We have benefited from the support provided by AGPAHI and this includes information on HIV/AIDS, attended workshops on HIV/AIDS, nutrition and living as discordant couple.

Through Paul and Maria, AGPAHI has reached many people in community informing them that it is possible in a marriage to have one partner as HIV+ and if he/she adheres to the measures for positive living – the infected partner can protect the spouse. Social support amongst couples and relatives is very crucial in such situations.