Margret, a 59-year-old mother of six, started to lose weight after her husband passed away from AIDS in 2002. She also developed mouth sores that refused to go away. Because Margret didn’t know what caused her late husband’s death, she was advised to get tested for HIV by one of his friends.

“There was no excuse for me not to follow his advice since they always hang together with him.”

For her children’s sake, she was advised to start ART treatment right away after receiving a positive test result. It was a private clinic where she underwent testing, so she had to pay to access all of her medications there.

“At the facility, I always paid for the services I asked for, but one morning I was in line behind a random client who had stopped by for an urgent refill. When I asked why she was only getting emergency care and not the full package, she explained and told me about her clinic, Alive Medical Services which she advised me to transfer following the fact that we were paying to receive ARV medicines. She convinced me that it would be beneficial to travel the additional 119 kilometres from my home to Alive Medical Services even though I initially didn’t see the point. All I could do when I got to Alive Medical Services was cry, but the doctors reassured me that everything would be okay, and I shouldn’t worry. I didn’t think I would survive, so it was hard to believe the doctor. I was just financially exhausted because I had to pay for my daily medicines.”

Margret joined Alive Medical Services in 2005 and hasn’t looked back; she considers Alive Medical Services to be her second marriage. Margret travels 119 kilometers to the facility but only takes 30 minutes. Margret has managed to care for all six of her children on her own; they, too, have been supportive and helpful as treatment supporters. She is grateful to everyone at Alive Medical Services for not allowing her to follow her hopeless thoughts of death.

“Even if I have a cold, I don’t think I trust any other facility for my health.”

The fight against HIV/AIDS among at-risk populations has been transformed by Alive Medical Services. Such compelling testimonials unequivocally demonstrate how all support has improved the lives of women and vulnerable populations. Additionally, this effort has helped in the fight against diseases like HIV/AIDS and the Millennium Development Goals for gender equality and women’s empowerment.