I tested positive on August 19, 2005 and I thought it was a joke. I was seriously embarrassed; if not for the sake of God and the fact that I had been a peer educator I would have fallen. If I had not been a part of the process that brought the Salvation Army to our community, I would have said everything that happened was a trick. When they handed me my result, I went home, I couldn’t sleep. I was so worried, and I decided to subject my kids to the test. I have three kids, though the first is not with me. Of the two kids with me, one tested positive and the other negative. The one that tested positive is the little one I am carrying. I was advised to stop breastfeeding. I said God, am I going to lose my baby? When I got home, I told my sister and she asked me what we were going to do about the situation. I called Victor and told him my situation. He said Aunty Ayinke, this is time for us to fight, and since then, we have been working together to salvage our community.
         
Before the test, I did not notice any prior symptoms. I didn’t notice anything up till the moment that I allowed them to test me. Up till now, I have not fallen sick. Aside from the fact that I am said to have the virus in my system, I am okay. My daughter is good, she has not developed any complications, and she is coping fine. Treatment at MSF (Doctors Without Borders) is free, and I have been taking advantage of that.

Point of contact
My husband just came back over a year after he left me and my daughter. You know how it is. After much pleading, I gave in to him. I got pregnant with Joy. That was the last I’ve heard of him. He doesn’t know if his baby is a boy or a girl. My last child, our first, tested negative, and I know in my heart that I have not slept with another man. Well, my second baby is positive, the father is no where to be found, and I’m positive as well, where else could I have gotten it?

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