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18 hours ago

The value of support groups in increasing adherence to AIDS medication...When Tadiwa* was six years old, he lost both his parents to AIDS. As with millions of children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic, his grandmother, Joyce*, was the only person left to raise him. During a visit to their community, a volunteer from Chiedza Child Care Centre, a community-based organization in Zimbabwe, recognized that Tadiwa was ill. The volunteer supported his grandmother in understanding the importance of taking her grandchild for health check-ups; Tadiwa later tested positive for HIV.

SLF partners like Chiedza are deeply connected to the communities where they work, encouraging openness and trust, crucial to supporting people in vulnerable situations. When Tadiwa was diagnosed, Chiedza helped him access life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART), and helped Joyce disclose his HIV status to him, in an age appropriate way.

Joyce and Tadiwa joined support groups, giving them a safe space to share with people in similar circumstances. Joyce joined a group for caregivers. Tadiwa joined a group that gave him access to counselling and psychosocial support to manage the stigma that often accompanies an HIV diagnosis, and most importantly, to adhere to his treatment.

In Tadiwa’s words: “Support groups helped me to know things I didn’t know. I know that if I take my medications, I’ll live longer.” Tadiwa hopes to one day be a doctor.

The majority of SLF partners that facilitate treatment access have adherence rates above 95%, which are indeed, inspiring successes. More insights like this can be found our most recent edition of Grassroots: bit.ly/SLF-Grassroots

#amplifyvoices #solidaritynotcharity

*Names have been changed to protect identities ... See MoreSee Less

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