Jackson Sani lived in fear and confusion for a long time before he discovered he was living with HIV. For years, his health deteriorated experiencing frequent illnesses that left him weak and convinced he was going to die. Overwhelmed by his condition, Sani blamed those around him, thinking he had been bewitched.
Jackson Sani lived in fear and confusion for a long time before he discovered he was living with HIV. For years, his health deteriorated experiencing frequent illnesses that left him weak and convinced he was going to die. Overwhelmed by his condition, Sani blamed those around him, thinking he had been bewitched.
Everything changed when someone referred him to Needed Actions for Community Care and Development - NACC . He underwent HIV counselling and testing and found out that he was HIV positive. Initially shocked, Sani was unsure of what to do. However, NACC was there to guide him, offering psychosocial support and the benefits of taking Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.
“NACC showed me that knowing my HIV status was one thing I had been missing out, “They helped me understand that with ARVs, I could live a normal and healthy life.” Sani said.
Since then, his health improved drastically, and he no longer experienced the illnesses that once haunted him. Not only has he regained his physical strength, but his outlook on life has also changed.
He was taken through nutrition education related to HIV and Integrated Household Farming (IHF) including rearing of goats which he followed. He also joined HIV support groups to interact will others going through the same which strengthened his drug adherence. Today, both Sani and his wife, who is also on ARVs, are living happily and managing their condition with ease.
“I am so grateful to NACC for helping me know my status and for guiding me on the path to better health,” He says.
“My wife and I both take ARVs without any problems, we are living healthily with HIV for over 20 years. I know now that HIV is not the end of life, but a new beginning.” He concluded.