TB Alert Margaret and Loveness tell their stories

Loveness Banda:

I was ill and weak and didn’t know what was wrong. Friends encouraged me to go for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and when I found out I had HIV and TB too I thought it was the end of my life. My husband is dead and I have 8 children, I could not bear to leave them without a mother.

But I started getting treatment from Bwafwano and my lovely caregiver Margaret made me see what life could be if I lived positively. I encouraged my sister to go for VCT too. She was tested - although it took her a long time - her appointment was delayed 8 times but eventually she was started on ART too. 

I feel fit and happy now and I thank Bwafwano and it’s donors for that. I want to help others live positively too, to encourage them for VCT, to counsel them through the hard times and help them see that life can still be good.  I am now very busy telling my friends that AIDS doesn’t have to kill – let me direct you to where I went – it’s easy!  See how ill I was and see how well I am now.  I am gaining weight and I am strong.  You can do that too.  We want to get rid of stigma – it has no place here!

Margaret Nkoma:

I am HIV positive and I know a lot of people who have TB. When I first found out I was so worried and afraid of dying, I didn’t think there was anything that could be done to help me.  But my fellow caregivers gave me the support I needed to come through and live positively. I am now proud to be Bwafwano caregiver, and was really pleased to be trained in Antiretroviral treatment  adherence this year, so I am now able to help many other people like me.

I spend my mornings looking after patients and in the afternoon I sell vegetables and a bit of charcoal to support my 5 children. (I have 7 children but the older ones left home and they will not come and see me because they are ashamed I am HIV).

I am so happy that Loveness has become a caregiver like me now she is feeling better. I think of her like my sister.