| The local Red Cross Branch, which refers people for testing and counselling, and a local government HIV prevention officer encouraged him to take a taxi to Metu to be tested.
Meleke was HIV positive too, and by this time he was also bedridden.
Burkadu and Meleke’s eldest daughter returned home, and a Red Cross home-based care volunteer began weekly visits to teach her how to care for them.
They have now been taking anti-retrovirals and receiving excellent care from their daughter and the Red Cross volunteer for several months. Julia Abel, British Red Cross programme support officer on the Africa team, said: “Their improvement is huge. Having been bedridden some months ago, they are now living much more positively.”
Help
The help they received has spurred Meleke on to help others in his community who are living with HIV and to combat stigma and discrimination.
He is setting up an association of members who loan a small sum every month to a person in the community for income-generating activities. The Red Cross is helping him write a proposal for funding.
Meleke explained his motivation, saying: “Because I was helped I want to help others. Now that I’m better, I want to help others like the Red Cross helped me.”
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