'Josephine' and her ex-husband enrolled in a U=U programme by Pepfar in partnership with CDC. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Nephak linked her with the Kibera Community Self-help Programme Kenya (Kicoshep) where she was sensitised and supported with food baskets.

Her ex-husband became anxious with the amount of help she had received. After consultation, he joined the network on condition that he would start the ARV treatment.

By 2010, Josephine and her husband had achieved tremendous results. They had been enrolled in several treatment literacy programmes and both qualified as TOTs.

As a couple, they happily got transferred to the Kibera health centre where they would both collect their medication and remind each other of doctor's appointments.

Her husband excelled in the training programmes and he was elevated to be a peer educator at Mbagathi Hospital, while Josephine remained to volunteer as a community health worker.

"It was such a journey full of ups and downs but I am happy for this far I have come. By the time I separated from my husband in 2019, we had both suppressed the virus. I wish him all the best wherever he is," said Josephine.

BLINDNESS

Josephine says in 2010, something strange happened. She was seated with family and friends in a room and then suddenly darkness fell.

"I started asking why they had switched off the lights. Jokingly they told me that the room was well lit and there was no need for more light. On persisting, they realised all was not well. I was taken to a hospital and after several tests, the doctors broke the sad news that due to the viral load, I had contracted an infection that attacked my eye system. This meant that I would remain blind for the rest of my life," she said.

This added more pain to my life. How do I live with blindness and HIV, who would take care of me? she posed.

Having been born with normal eyesight, Josephine confesses that accepting what was befalling on her life was no easy task. She wished the earth would open and swallow her alive.

"For now I am at peace with myself because I have accepted who and how I am. I depend on my God who takes care of my worries but sometimes I depend on well-wishers to take care and guide me. My daughter has been there for me even though my life is an expensive affair because I am living a double life of disability and HIV," she said.

Josephine says the Ministry of Health with all its partners has been of great help not only to her but to many people living with HIV especially those with disabilities.

She said HIV-related stigma towards people with disabilities is still high and all stakeholders should come on board and create more awareness to the members of the public.

"I want people to understand that PWDs especially women have rights just as anyone else. We deserve some respect, we deserve to be loved because we are humans with feelings," she said.

She says although she is lucky to be getting a small stipend that takes care of her needs as a PWD, there are still others who are in dire need that need to be reached out to.

"For now, I am proud that I am living positively without the fear of attacks from opportunistic diseases. I urge my fellow PWDs to adhere and take medication at the right time. Every time you are told your viral load is high, then it is a red flag but if we stay committed to the course, we can bring the viral load to zero by 2030," she noted.