"Things began in 2001 when I was expecting my last baby boy. I was tired all the time. I had vertigo and nauseas. I was vomiting, had no appetite and had a fever all the time. I didn't understand what was going on. I thought that all these symptoms were connected to being pregnant and that I would recover after I had given birth.
My husband died nearly four months after our baby was born. By the end of 2001, my health was deteriorating. The illness made me very tired and weak. I even began to lose weight. Nevertheless, I needed to do my best to prevent my children from ending up on the streets. To get our daily food, I accompanied my neighbour to the field to get some vegetables that I mashed and cooked with water and salt. This meal provided neither calories nor vitamins, but it prevented us from going hungry. One after another the children dropped out of school because we didn't have enough money.
I heard about SOS Children's Villages in 2003. I applied to have my children admitted to the SOS Children's Village but my application was rejected. I had a very vague idea about the organization. I knew that they cared for orphans and abandoned children, but I had never heard about the family strengthening programme. I did not know that they could also take care of people living outside the SOS Children's Villages. So I applied to be put on the family strengthening programme. When the person responsible for the programme saw me, he asked me to do a test and I agreed to without knowing that they already suspected they knew what was wrong. I was then diagnosed with HIV. They took me to a doctor who asked to do additional examinations, to assess what stage the disease was at and see what treatment should be given".
"A spark of light in my life"
 |
| A woman having drugs |
"I received my first HIV/AIDS medication thanks to SOS Children's Villages. Before beginning the treatment, the doctor asked me to take good care of myself, because my health depends on good hygiene. Every six months, I do tests (including blood tests) at the hospital to see how my body reacts to having the virus and how I can try to fix whatever complications/secondary effects arise. My children also benefit from the free care and medication. Their schooling is also being taken care of, the fees are being paid and supplies are being provided. All my children were re-enrolled at school.
As regards food, twice a month I get a food ration of soya, oil, salt, bean, corn flour, sugar, milk, sardines and rice. The food that I receive is very important for the whole family. It allows my children to have a balanced diet and it is important in supporting the antiretroviral therapy I have every day. You can't take medicine on an empty stomach so I eat first and then I take my medication. The food provided as part of the programme allows the medication not only to work to maximum effect, but also to strengthen my immune system. My situation is continually improving. I can even do some work now that I couldn't do a few years ago like fetching water from the tap or the river, cleaning the house, doing the dishes, cutting wood or working out in the field.
The family strengthening programme promised me a small amount of money to start an income-generating activity that would allow me to be financially independent. I would like to sell groundnuts and manioc as they are among the most consumed products here".
Not to be disclosed
 |
| Receiving education in Bangui |
"I finally accepted my situation and started living a normal life with the disease. However, I decided not to say anything to anybody. Stigma is quite high in our society. It is very difficult to tell people that you have HIV/AIDS. At the moment, I have very good relationships with people in my neighbourhood. When one of them has a problem, she/he comes to confide in me and ask for advice. If they find out that I have HIV/AIDS, they will no longer wish to be friends with me. Only my elder son is aware of my situation. I showed him all the documents, my medical file and the medication I'm taking. I reassured him that I am in good hands but at the same time, anything can happen at any time."
Currently the family strengthening programme in Bangui supports more than 2,000 people and 1,653 of those are children. The help the beneficiaries receive is various from the payment of school fees, literacy and professional training as well as health and sanitary improvements through the construction of latrines and the renovation of houses. Furthermore, information and education is provided on medical and legal topics, and those that run the programme try to get birth certificates for children and inform people about children's rights. HIV/AIDS tests are given and medicines are distributed. Income-generating projects involving shop keeping, animal breeding, crop cultivation and gardening. All activities are carried out in close interaction with the local community, which helps people like Sylvie to become independent again.