World AIDS Day 2009: Joyce Kaborole's Story
Joyce Kaborole is a 44-year-old mother of five living in Bigando, Uganda. Today she takes care of 13 children including her nephews and nieces whose parents died of AIDS.
“I am happy to look after the other children because they also help me around the house and garden but things can be very difficult financially,” Joyce tells ActionAid.
Joyce is living with HIV – the disease that claimed the lives of her husband and sister. “When my husband died… I went to the hospital and when they tested they found me positive,” Joyce explained.
Joyce Kaborole, who is HIV positive, is photographed in her garden in Bigando, Uganda. ActionAid provided Joyce with seeds, and trained her how to breed and sell chickens.
Copyright © Kate Holt/Shoot The Earth/ActionAid
Joyce returned home after the diagnosis to care for her children and her sister’s children. Shortly thereafter, her father died leaving Joyce to tend their land and take care of her half brothers.
Joyce explains that life was difficult for her immediately after her husband and father died. Not only was she sick from the initial effects of HIV but she also struggled to grow enough crops to feed her family. Additionally, her neighbors shunned her due to the stigma associated with the virus.
“They know that my husband died of HIV and some of them told me that I am going to die and were not respectful towards me,” Joyce said.
Today, Joyce is optimistic about her future thanks to increased access to antiretroviral drugs and ActionAid’s assistance. After participating in an ActionAid program, Joyce learned how to breed and sell chickens. With the extra money she now earns, Joyce is able to afford enough food for her family, as well as HIV treatment. In her spare time, Joyce also counsels other Ugandans living with HIV while educating her community about how to protect themselves from contracting the virus.
Joyce is one of 36 million people around the world living with HIV and AIDS. Although AIDS is a global problem, more then two-thirds of people living with the virus reside in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In recent years, the international community has made progress in getting antiretroviral drugs to people with living with HIV. However, commitment to these efforts has waivered in the face of the global financial crisis – a move jeopardizing the progress made against the disease.
Joyce’s story illustrates how with treatment those suffering from HIV can live longer, happier, and more productive lives. They can continue to support their families and raise their children. They can give back to their communities.
Join us on World Aids Day to learn what you can do to support ActionAid’s work around the world. We can end poverty. Together.
