By Greta Thomas
In Lesotho, Boleloa Falten has just turned 30. It’s a milestone birthday in anyone’s book, but for Boleloa it has even more significance.
Back in 1999 when she was 21, Boleloa learned she was HIV positive and that she had just thirty days to live.
Thirty days to live… “Get your affairs in order”, this 21 year old was told. At the time, access to treatment in Lesotho was difficult and expensive. In fact, Boleloa remembers selling her belongings to pay for her life-sustaining medication: “I started with my kitchen unit and my lounge set because somehow I needed to buy the drugs at the time…”
Today, the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment she needs is available and free, and Boleloa is happy and healthy, leading a very productive life in Lesotho.
Earlier this year, Boleloa was appointed National Coordinator of LENEPWHA – the Lesotho Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. LENEPWHA undertakes a variety of projects from education and prevention programs to launching entrepreneurial ventures which create jobs and income opportunities for its members.
In addition to getting free ARV’s to those who need it, Global Fund and (RED) financing in Lesotho helps fund programs like this one, including those which train healthcare and community workers. And there is plenty of need - Lesotho has a 23% HIV adult prevalence rate with an estimated 270,000 people living with HIV.
Boleloa speaks passionately about her role: “I do not want to see the next person facing what I faced. If I am in a position to change it - let me do it now.”
Happy Birthday Boleloa!
Greta
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9 comments:
This is simply a beautiful post, Greta. Thank you so very much for sharing it with us.
So often we get caught up in our own lives or in the goals that we are trying to achieve and we overlook the little blessings that Life has given us....like Life.
What Boleloa's story does is to remind us that each moment of our lives is precious because we can turn thos moments into a gift that we can give others....and thus, ourselves.
For us in the movement to end AIDS & extreme poverty this idea is especially important.
We must NEVER FORGET why our movement exists - it exists simply to give women like Boleloa and her family the chance to see another birthday & to make a better life for themselves.
Through (RED) we are able to contribute to Boleloa's future & that of her family's by assisting the Global Fund's mission in Lesotho and elsewhere.~
Thank you, Greta, for this beautiful post. It touched my Heart deeply.
Take very good care of each other, dear friends. Blessings are always around.
ALWAYS (RED) AT HEART, debbie :)
www.mpwn-uganda.org
This is simply a beautiful post, Greta. Thank you so very much for sharing it with us.
So often we get caught up in our own lives or in the goals that we are trying to achieve and we overlook the little blessings that Life has given us....like Life.
What Boleloa's story does is to remind us that each moment of our lives is precious because we can turn thos moments into a gift that we can give others....and thus, ourselves.
For us in the movement to end AIDS & extreme poverty this idea is especially important.
We must NEVER FORGET why our movement exists - it exists simply to give women like Boleloa and her family the chance to see another birthday & to make a better life for themselves.
Through (RED) we are able to contribute to Boleloa's future & that of her family's by assisting the Global Fund's mission in Lesotho and elsewhere.~
Thank you, Greta, for this beautiful post. It touched my Heart deeply.
Take very good care of each other, dear friends. Blessings are always around.
ALWAYS (RED) AT HEART, debbie :)
www.mpwn-uganda.org
yes, thank you for this very emotional and inspirational post. made me very pensive
Hi!
Every day is a victory for all people, we never knew how it would be the next day.
I discove(RED) the (PRODUCT) RED about one year ago in the GAP website. Unfortunately we don't have (RED) products here in Brazil.
Brazilian people are very generous. I think you should bring us this campaing.
Hugs,
Rafael - Brazil
http://quotidienlife.blogspot.com/2008/05/quotidien-red-thing.html
Happy Birthday Boleloa!
A sweet post Greta.
Thank you!
I think joinred needs more
promosion.
It's not very known.
In fact a few people knows about
joinred and the company which are involved.
Ioannis Mitrou
thank yo terlik
thank you sevgi
thank you red
I think its great Boleloa speaks passionately about her role.
This is to you Boleloa:
I’m wishing you another year
Of laughter, joy and fun,
Surprises, love and happiness,
And when your birthday’s done,
I hope you feel deep in your heart,
As your birthdays come and go,
How very much you mean to me,
More than you can know.
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