4. Encouraging Others - Rosemary, Zambia

“Some children have lost both parents; some, one. They need to be helped. But we’re asking the government to include us in development, so that we will be working together.”[Transcript]“My name is Rosemary. When I first felt sick, it was 2013 and I went to Mungwi Baptist Clinic. When I reached Mungwi, I visited the clinic officer who tested me and found that I’m HIV positive. Then I came back from Mungwi and went straight to the Malole Clinic where Madam Marjorie attended to me. She started me on treatment on the 13th of March, 2013. I have received medicine in Malole from that time until now, 2019.We have an organization in my village that I am active in, we encourage other people within the community, those who fear being open, to be open. So I started encouraging people in the community because they are not open. From that time, I was accompanied by Mary Chileshe. We make sure that we also encourage other people who are already sick. That’s how we continue encouraging other members. I’m also a member of Home Based Care, so it’s easier for me to work in my village. We’ve continued that program from 2013 up to now, in 2019. We go around the village to make sure that we’re with people. We started working with Clara on malnutrition because some children are not looking healthy. Then Clara went back to America and from there, we continued with Rebecca and the same program. After working together with Rebecca, then Sam came. Now he teaches us fish farming. But people are still feeling shy because of stigma. Some people are not attending the meetings because they are fearful. So we have continued with Home Based Care in the village.Today, Adam visited to help us learn more about fish farming which can help us, showing us how to care for fish. We are going to harvest in May or June. After harvesting our fish, we’re going to continue, but we’re asking the government to include us in development, so that we will be working together. We need the government to make sure they’re supporting us so that we can continue, because some of the children – their parents have died, so they are orphans. So they need to help. Some children have lost both parents; some, one. They need to be helped. Mrs. Mary has continued to help us by collecting reports and taking them to Mrs. Chewe at the clinic and she supports those in the community who have fear.”[Credits]This testimony was recorded in 2019 by Zambia Peace Corps Volunteer Adam Greenberg, Rural Aquaculture Promotion Extension Agent. Translation assistance by counterpart Ba Silver. English recording by RAP PCV Maggie Ruppel. Thanks also to CHIP PCV Sam Rudloff. Music by Adam Greenberg.Thank you, Rosemary. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hivpositivevoices.substack.com