A life with AIDS

Victoria Alson, an hiv-positive, works as adviser on hiv and aids for the organisation Kindlimuka - a partner of MS Mozambique.

By Jens Lærke

03. December 2003

“People, who have just been informed that they are HIV-positive, are often confused and shocked. Therefore, when I advise them, I tell them my story so that they can see the events in longer perspective rather than just the immediate situation.”

Victoria Alson, 33 years, works in the organisation, Kindlimuka, that advises on HIV and AIDS in Mozambique. The organisation has received financial support from MS. Victoria was diagnosed HIV-positive in June 2002 but still goes about her daily work as an adviser at the general hospital in the capital of Mozambique, Maputo. She is a mother of two sons who are seven and thirteen. The youngest has been suffering from some diseases but has been tested HIV-negative. The elder one has not been tested.

About 700 people are infected daily with HIV in Mozambique. Most of them do not know that they are infected, and this is one of the biggest hurdles for containing the epidemic. People do not want to be tested because they consider HIV infection as a death sentence and believe that they would live for only a few weeks or months after a positive diagnose.

Passport to death

“One day, some of my acquaintances said to me that HIV infection means a passport to death. My husband and I had to laugh at this. These people are ignorant, and they do not want to know what HIV is. It actually makes them vulnerable. Many will lead their lives without knowing how one gets infected, and they will not be tested,” says Victoria, who points out that ignorance leads to discrimination of infected people and this is the biggest problem.

“Being HIV infected is sad enough, but it is discrimination one dies of. We should sympathise with the people who are infected.”

Victoria Alson

“Being HIV infected is sad enough, but it is discrimination one dies of,” she says.

She was infected by her husband who knew that he was HIV-positive, but did not tell her. She discovered by chance when she flicked over the pages of some case records at the hospital and suddenly saw her husband’s name on the list of HIV-positive patients. Her first reaction was shock and sorrow, “but as an adviser, I could take it in a different way than many others,” she says. She still lives with her husband.

“I am not cross with him because he has infected me. We tell each other that this is a disease that we should go through together and learn to live with it,” says Victoria. Her husband was diagnosed in June 2000 and has been ill many times ever since. Victoria herself has not been ill yet.

Life after HIV

“Some people undergo a test because they keep on getting ill, for instance, due to a rash and diarrhoea without knowing the reason for it. When they get the result, many do not accept that it is AIDS. Previously, they rushed out of the office of the advisory service. However, that does not happen so often today. People have heard so much about AIDS, and have been informed that that there is also a life after an HIV-positive diagnose,” says Victoria, who has obviously reflected upon what is going to happen to her children in future.

“Before my time comes, my children must be ensured the best conditions. They should attend school and study – otherwise they would find it very difficult to find a job later,” she says.

“We are in the process of renovating and doing up the house so that our children can take over if we die. We are also about to make a will so that the children can inherit and live in the house,” she says.

It is an increasing problem in many countries in Africa that the families of AIDS-stricken parents are ready to pounce and take over the house and other valuables when the parents die. Thus they cheat the children of their inheritance.

However, Victoria does not think too much about death. She continues with giving advice to others – as she in turn receives advice from a colleague at the Kindlimuka centre.

“One should believe in life. I think that God has determined the day I am going to die. My own adviser, Irene, gives me moral support. We should sympathise with the people we advise, and by virtue of Irene’s support, I have the strength to continue with my work,” she says.