At AMS, our patients’ smiling faces provide a daily reminder of what we are accomplishing as a team. This team including AMS staff, patients, community members, and supporters  is transforming the story of living with HIV/AIDS. We are using quality, comprehensive HIV care, support, and treatment to provide over 18,000 patients with the hope and health to pursue a bright future. 

The success of our programs is based in taking a holistic approach to HIV care  an approach that supports the multiple challenges of living a health life with HIV. For example, AMS recognizes the important intersection between women’s/girl’s rights and HIV care. We know that to fully and adequately address either issue we must objectively look at the problem and address the many different issues that compose the larger problem. This requires a multi-faceted and comprehensive approach to HIV care. 

People living with HIV often come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and once someone has HIV/AIDS it becomes more difficult to work and support themselves and their family. Thus, HIV creates a negative repetition of poverty that exacerbates the virus and increases people’s poverty and vulnerability. 

AMS addresses these problems by focusing on providing easy, free access to full comprehensive services. In addition, AMS is also providing unique, creative, community-based opportunities for clients to form groups, increase financial knowledge, develop livelihood skills, partake in small group micro lending schemes, and become financially independent. 

One of our patients, *Hannah*, first came to AMS in 2011. Her husband had just died of AIDS leaving her with four children. After her husband’s death, Hannah’s mother had suggested that she should test for HIV. Fearing that her daughter was HIV positive, Hannah’s mother wanted her receive care and start treatment so that she could stay healthy and take care of her children. Hannah did test HIV positive and immediately began receiving comprehensive care at AMS. 

When Hannah first joined AMS she did not realize the full level of support that she would receive. In addition to receiving medical treatment, AMS has helped Hannah rebuild her life providing her with access to an income generation project that allows her to support herself and her children. As Hannah regained her health, she received training in jewelry making and now leads AMS’ women’s group, called Kwagalana. She has benefited tremendously from the skills that she has gained and her participation in the group. In addition to earning money, Hannah has rebuilt her confidence and has provided excellent leadership to other women in the group. With the money that she has saved from this work, Hannah plans to buy a plot of land and construct a simple structure for her family. She says, “…life is now meaningful, I can pay [school] fees for my children, buy the food I would like to eat, dress well and save some more. I have made more friends too who understand my situation. ….”

 AMS’ peer groups and comprehensive programs and services provide patients like Hannah with a bright and healthy future. These services have helped transform AMS into a thriving community that provides over 18,000 patients with love, hope, and dignity. The variety and quality of our comprehensive services would not be possible without the support and dedication of our whole team including supporters like you! Thank you for standing with AMS as we continue to work together for an HIV-free future.