It is touching and encouraging at the same time. I salute her for speaking up.

Ngai! This article highlights the challenges HIV+ teens are facing. They are not getting the emotional support that they badly need. I know of one who died in F2 last year because she refused to follow diet and swallow her ARVs.

Kubafff!!!!

A constant feature in the line of duty. The stories we get are enough to break an adult, wacha hata mtu mzima.

Challenge mostly comes because a most were started on treatment as babies. As they age, they obviously get more curious and begin to question why they have to take drugs yet their age mates don't. This, together with teenage rebellion, if not handled well can be a recipe for disaster.

Some totally refuse further treatment until their queries are fully and satisfactorily answered. For those whose parents have died and they're now under the care of grandparents, challenges kibao.

The environment in our boarding schools doesn't help calm the young ones either.

So true. The boarding system is very popular and does not help matters. The HIV + are unlikely to have the requisite dietary requirements for a person on ARVs. Teachers and other staff not equipped to provide emotional support.Parents believe kids must go to secondary boarding schools because they teach children to "be independent and responsible". Most kids are sent off to boarding schools at the onset of teenage, when they need alot of emotional support. I can show you many irresponsible adults who went to several boarding schools.

True. Actually from around 10yrs, we encourage the care givers to begin to disclose because this is the period when most queries begin to arise. Still, I can assure you it never is easy on the young ones. It's heart breaking to say the least.

Reminds me of this 13-year old boy who once found me at the clinic and was experiencing several challenges. Firstly, in school (he was in form one at the time), they were required to participate in what in my days we called cross-country which basically entailed running along a predetermined course outside the school compound akin to the conventional marathon.

Thing is, the drugs side effects used to really wear the young man down and he really had no energy to participate in such a strenuous sport. But then, the teacher doesn't know or understand why. Given the social stigma associated with the disease the young man doesn't know if to disclose to his teacher and if so, whether to tell all or just some of them. Meantime, some of the drugs are making him sleepy (Efavirenz, one of the drugs he was on has this side effect) and teachers are berating him for dozing in class. Nyumbani nako mashida tele. The young man's mum had passed on and dad had recently remarried and since he worked far away, he was left in the care of his step mum with whom they didn't have a good relationship....I met this young man about 5yrs ago and till this day, I still recall the anguish in his voice.

To their credit, USAID played a big role in demystifying the disease. On several occasions we were called upon to train not only health care workers but also people in careers as varied as teachers, prison warders and even the police force. The goal was noble: to demistify the disease as well as enable them effectively cater to those in their charge who may have the disease.

Its a challenge even for parents especially if they are not open about their status. I know of a couple the kid who is positive (now grown in Form 1) would not visit even the grand parents for a sleep over without the parents. They would give all sorts of excuses whenever such plans would be put in place. Coz the kid should swallow the pills everyday (secretly) and the secret would leak if they get somebody else to administer the pills. Not easy for a moment.

Have u heard of GEMORA. I think u have a permanent solution now. You may not even need to explain anything after all. Good news are here! https://drive.google.com...BY--5w/view?usp=drivesdk