This archive report was first published on 29 July 2019.
Published on July 29, 2019, a young man from Mathare, Kenya, shared a devastating story of how his parents' silence about his HIV status ruined his life.
He was born in Mathare area 4 and grew up in the slums without attending school. His family struggled to make ends meet, and he often went hungry.
Tragedy struck in 2007 when his parents were killed in the post-election violence, leaving him alone at the age of 7. He was taken in by a barren landlady who became his guardian.
Years later, an NGO approached him to join their program, which required him to take an HIV test. Despite being a virgin, he was shocked to learn that he was HIV positive.
Further tests confirmed his status, and health workers discovered that his parents had been taking HIV medication and had left behind documents and medication for him. The young man was devastated, realizing that his parents had known about his condition but kept it a secret.
He has since come to terms with his condition and is sharing his story to raise awareness about the importance of honesty and support for those living with HIV.
As he reflected on his experience, he said, "Hakuna mtu angekubali mtoto ako na UKIMWI acheze na watoto wake, ata vile wazazi walimadwa, huyu mama hangekuchukua, shukuru mungu na wazazi wako, walikusaidia ata kama hakukupeleka hosi vile inafaa." (No one would accept a child with HIV and abandon their own children, even if they had died, this mother wouldn't have taken me in, thank God and my parents, they helped me even if they didn't take me to the hospital as they should have.)
