This post comes in from Swaziland and tells the story of Sylvia. Thanks to your support of (RED) and the Global Fund people like Sylvia have access to lifesaving medicine. Sylvia embraces her medicine and the strength it gives her to go on helping others who are HIV positive. As a 41 year old counselor, widow, mother and support group founder she has a great attitude and an amazing story.
Photo credit c/o the Global Fund“When I take my antiretrovirals I think of life… because they will prolong my life.”
Since discovering she was HIV positive more than ten years ago, Sylvia has dedicated her life to helping others living with HIV and to helping prevent the spread of the virus in her homeland of Swaziland, where 26% of adults are HIV positive.
Sylvia works as an expert patient/counselor and her job is all about counseling patients who have just learnt they are HIV positive and need to start antiretroviral therapy, treatment which is financed in Swaziland by the Global Fund and (RED). Sylvia also runs an HIV support group from her home called Hope Heals – and if ever there was a person who can give healing hope to people in need, it’s Sylvia.
When you visit Sylvia’s home perched on a hill outside of Mbabane in Swaziland, you can see how much her neighbors rely on her for advice and support. There are always people dropping by to seek her advice. So much so that she now has a dedicated support room built in her backyard!
Sylvia also spends hours nurturing her vegetable garden so she can give fresh vegetables to people who can’t afford them because a good diet is particularly important for people who are on antiretroviral therapy.
As Sylvia says: “I am strong and I have a passion for helping people, to see everyone getting better.”
Since discovering she was HIV positive more than ten years ago, Sylvia has dedicated her life to helping others living with HIV and to helping prevent the spread of the virus in her homeland of Swaziland, where 26% of adults are HIV positive.
Sylvia works as an expert patient/counselor and her job is all about counseling patients who have just learnt they are HIV positive and need to start antiretroviral therapy, treatment which is financed in Swaziland by the Global Fund and (RED). Sylvia also runs an HIV support group from her home called Hope Heals – and if ever there was a person who can give healing hope to people in need, it’s Sylvia.
When you visit Sylvia’s home perched on a hill outside of Mbabane in Swaziland, you can see how much her neighbors rely on her for advice and support. There are always people dropping by to seek her advice. So much so that she now has a dedicated support room built in her backyard!
Sylvia also spends hours nurturing her vegetable garden so she can give fresh vegetables to people who can’t afford them because a good diet is particularly important for people who are on antiretroviral therapy.
As Sylvia says: “I am strong and I have a passion for helping people, to see everyone getting better.”
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