LIFE BEYOND HIV, FROM CHAOS TO HOPE AT THE DROP-IN CENTER.

Author: Mekdim Hailu, Project Communication Manager, PSI Ethiopia

This account is shared by a client from the Drop-in Center of the USAID MULU KP Activity. Presented in the first person to convey the story effectively, the individual’s name and full identity remain undisclosed to uphold confidentiality.

Life is often a complex journey, and in my life, there is one unforgettable chapter that has changed the course of my life forever. It all began in Addis Ababa, 2005 E.C. after I was discharged from the Ethiopian military following a leg injury sustained during a battle with South Sudanese troops in the Northern West part of the country. It marked the start of a new chapter in a new city and a new beginning.

Before living in Addis Ababa, I had three marriages behind me, all ending in divorce and leaving me without children. The pain of these divorces and the void of childlessness left a mark on my heart. My arrival in Addis became a time of soul-searching, a quest to fill this void. In search of solace and distraction, I turned to khat, alcohol, and the world of sex workers. Sadly, almost most of these encounters with sex workers were unprotected.

The story takes a turn back to my military days when I was stationed near the Ethiopian-Eritrean border during an Ethiopian New Year celebration in 1999 E.C. That is when my sex life began, amidst celebrations, traditional food, alcohol, dancing, and the presence of women. That was my introduction to sex, and from then on, I had unprotected sex countless times.

After my move to Addis, in a haze of khat and alcohol, a young man I knew took it upon himself to inform me about the risk of HIV/AIDS. At first his words irritated me, but as I grappled with the consequences of my decisions, his insights became clearer and clearer. In sober moments, his warnings echoed in my head and convinced me to face the reality of my situation.

One day I gathered the courage to talk to this young man to gain a deeper understanding of HIV/AIDS. After explaining the risks, he recommended free counselling, HIV testing and support from health professionals at the Drop-In Center (DIC) where he received health services. The DIC is a USAID MULU: Key Populations (KP) Activity-supported initiative to establish hotspot-based community centres that provide free, comprehensive HIV services to key and priority populations. Although he kept telling me how friendly and compassionate the service providers were, this new knowledge only increased my anxiety and stress, knowing how reckless my sex life had been.

To numb my fear, I turned to alcohol, distanced myself from my friends, and silenced my phone for weeks. But the truth would not be silenced. The young man insisted and put me in touch with a counsellor at the DIC who showed me the way forward, emphasizing the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the event of a positive diagnosis. Faced with the reality of the diagnosis, I decided to undergo an HIV test — a turning point in my life.

Waiting for the test results seemed like an eternity. The test result that came back was life-changing — I was HIV positive. The healthcare professional left no room for delay and urged me to start ART that very day. That was the moment my life took a dramatic turn, and the medication became my glimmer of hope.

But my story does not end here. After my conversations with the counsellor, I felt motivated to share my HIV test results with my three ex-wives and two regular sexual partners. Four of these women decided to take the test, and two of them received the same diagnosis: HIV-positive. They began their treatment at the Kazanchis Drop-in Center, where they found a social and health support system.

The Drop-in Center is no ordinary place; it is a sanctuary, an oasis for those struggling with the challenges of HIV. It provides medication and a social support system among people who genuinely care about our wellbeing. It makes our journey to better health less worrisome and gives us comfort in knowing that we are not alone in this fight. The Drop-in Center has changed our lives and offers us support when we need it. At the DIC, our journey to a healthy life takes a new, hopeful turn.