HIV and AIDS stigma is expressed around the world in a variety of ways, but its form varies from one country to another, and the specific groups targeted for AIDS stigma vary considerably. Whatever its form, AIDS stigma inflicts suffering on people and interferes with attempts to fight the AIDS epidemic. Indeed, the fear of discrimination is a major constraint to the wide acceptance of many potentially effective public health measures to positive living. In collaboration with PEPFAR and the US Mission in Nigeria, our approach for the rural poor border communities, starting with Oko Afo and Magbon in the Badagry LGA of Lagos State has been to educate core community influencers with multiplier effects on issues militating against positive living and jointly find solutions to them.

Francis' infection was by a simple trip to his local mallam to get his nails cut. Who could know that such a minuscule task could have such deadly and life altering repercussion?  Francis marked that whilst visiting the mallam he had been cut with the nail scissors, the instant he was cut and drew blood, something felt out of sink with his spirit, but he was unable to articulate or place what was wrong. He then proceeded with his daily life as best as he could, it was not until much later that he learnt of the programme that Families Alive International were running. Francis said that he was compelled to be a part of the programme but could not quite understand why. The HIV/AIDS awareness campaign by FAI some 18 months earlier gave Francis the opportunity to visit a Voluntary Counseling and Testing   (VCT) which later revealed that he was HIV Positive. For him the warning came too late, for him the

opportunity to revert his HIV Positive status was gone, all that was left for now, was to focus and implement the Positive Living into what was left of his life.
Having tested positive, for Francis, Positive Living began with admitting his status and sharing his story, followed by taking the antiretroviral drugs prescribed by his doctor religiously and as it is well known that the drug leaves people with increased appetite it was also very important to consume a balance diet. Francis also noted that he was already receiving support from his community-based peers and thanked Families Alive International for the work they were doing in the community.  

For Oluwakemi, it was a different kettle of fish. Though she supposedly spoke without bitterness  in her heart her harrowing story got most in the audience silently flow with tears as she spoke with such, pain, anguish and betrayal by a loved one. Her infection had been caused by a cheating spouse. She had long been aware that he had wondering eyes but had hoped that he would not bring any harm through it into the family home. As she reluctantly laid with him on that unforgettable night she too sensed that something was amiss, her spirit felt different, the sensation she felt could not be described it was like a fever that burnt differently.  

When she went to get herself checked out at a VCT clinic later on; and confronted her husband with her HIV positive result, the situation went from bad to worse as he later kicked her and their 7 year old child out of the marital home. Luckily her child is safe from the infection but her main concern right now is what is the next step as she lives what is left of her fragile life. Although the support of the community is there I guess sometime we need a  little more. You can not help but feel that her concern right now is more to do with the welfare of her child when she is gone. When we think about AIDS and the many orphans it leaves behind we are at a loss as we can only provide shelter and food but not replace a mother’s love.

Dr Rudolph E. Stewart was first to congratulate them noting that a large part of the Living Positive process was what we just witnessed.