Serendipitous Encounter Leads to Life-Changing Procedure

by Tumusiime Loy, Program Coordinator

As we sit in the bright sunshine on the veranda outside the fistula ward at Kamuli Mission Hospital, Kevin’s excitement was palpable. She was proud to be selected to be interviewed, which made her more confident to share her story. With her husband, Daniel, nearby, Kevin tells me how she came to seek treatment for fistula.

Kevin was just 17 when she first became pregnant and, in the tradition of her family, she delivered the child with a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA). After delivering, Kevin was in a great deal of pain and the herb bath the TBA prescribed was not providing any relief. After several months, the pain subsided, but she was still leaking urine. When Kevin and Daniel sought advice from TBA, they were told that is just a consequence of childbirth. Knowing in their hearts that there was a better answer, Daniel and Kevin decided to deliver at the health center for their second child. While Kevin and the new baby were recovering, there happened to be a UVP Fistula Ambassador, Jackie, sensitizing a group at the health center. After the presentation, Kevin approached Jackie and the two discussed Kevin’s symptoms, and Jackie suggested they keep in touch.

Months later, Jackie went to visit Kevin and talked about the upcoming fistula treatment camp. With the TBA’s advice that this was simply a result of childbirth ringing in her ears, Kevin was reluctant to attend the camp. It wasn’t until Daniel said he would escort her and act as her attendant that she committed to seeking treatment.

Now, after a successful surgery, Kevin is so grateful for that fateful day at the health center. If it weren’t for the Fistula Ambassador, Kevin may have never learned about fistula and could still be suffering. She and Daniel are both appreciative for the services provided to them and vowed to continue sharing their story with others who needed education about preventing fistula.

Special thanks to The Fistula Foundation for supporting UVP's fistula program! If you would like to learn more about all the ways that UVP fights fistula, please visit our website.

The Brave Month

by Harriet Nakayiza, Program Coordinator

Seated under a cool mango tree at Bugono Health Centre IV, this is where Kasita found out her status. She’s a shy, kind young lady, only 19 years old. She’s also living with HIV.

So many times Kasita had seen and participated in UVP’s sensitizations for HIV, but never sought HIV testing for herself. Since she never felt ill or with a history of sexually transmitted infections, Kasita didn’t think an HIV test was necessary, but she always had a little fear that the test might be positive. This month she was brave.

When she first found out about her status she was frightened and upset. “Usually fear is the beginning of all troubles,” she said. “But with time, we adjust, we seek help, and we live a healthy life.”

As Kasita looks to the future, she is confident and hopefully. Her 8 month old beautiful baby girl needs her, and she is committed to taking her antiretroviral therapy (ART) “until the end end of my life” as she would say. 

Kasita also learned a powerful lesson: HIV is not only transmitted to people with multiple partners. This is the type of misinformation that continues to perpetuate stigma for individuals living with HIV. 

Through UVP-led community sensitization, more women like Kasita (and her husband too!) are able to know their status, seek life-saving treatment, and undo harmful myths to live a happy, healthy life.

Kasita's story is being shared with her permission.
You can support young women like Kasita to know their HIV status by supporting UVP's HIV program!