TSEHAYE’S JOURNEY TO EMBRACING WELLNESS,
A TESTAMENT TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CLIENT-CENTERED HIV CARE.
Author: Fana Abay, Marketing and Communications Director, PSI Ethiopia
Meet Tsehaye, a resilient woman from Doni East Shewa in the Oromia region who faced the challenges of life head-on. While graduating from Grade 10 marked a pivotal moment in her life, the journey that unfolded after that was not without its share of obstacles. With limited job and educational opportunities in her community, Tsehaye was financially dependent on her family and ended up getting married. This marriage produced two children, but her husband’s problems with alcoholism and neglect meant that Tsehaye struggled with stress and worries about her family’s wellbeing.
After three difficult years, Tsehaye made a difficult decision to divorce her husband and move to Addis Ababa leaving her children with her mother. Motivated to provide a better life for her mother and children, she initially took on a cleaning job in a hotel. However, fate had other plans for her.
Tsehaye met Serkalem, a friend who encouraged her to become a waitress to earn more money. She took this advice to heart and quickly became the best waitress in the hotel in her new role. Little did she know that this career change would bring unexpected challenges, as she was faced with situations where she had to exchange sex for money with some regular customers. Despite these hardships, Tsehaye sent money home and supported her family.
One day, Azeb, a peer educator with USAID MULU KP (Key Populations) Activity, invited Tsehaye to a session at Riche Drop-In Centers (DIC) located at Cherkos. These DICs are hubs at the heart of hotspots providing free, comprehensive and accessible HIV services for key populations and priority populations. Following the counseling session, Tsehaye took an HIV test at Riche DIC, revealing a tough result — she tested positive for HIV. Despite the initial shock and subsequent depression, Tsehaye found comfort in the care at Riche DIC. Integrated clinical services, including starting ART drugs, became her lifeline.
Initially, Tsehaye found it difficult to stick to her treatment plan and miss appointments as she struggled with the psychological and psychosocial challenges of her HIV diagnosis. However, Riche DIC’s dedicated case manager offered her counseling and shared her experiences with her, leading Tsehaye on a path of hope and resilience. Her recent viral load results after six months are a testament to her commitment — her HIV is suppressed, which underscores her commitment to treatment.
Today, Tsehaye has turned her life around. With the support of Riche DIC staff, she ventured into entrepreneurship and started her own small business. Her path crossed with Daniel, who also received ART treatment at the nearby public facility. Together, they are striving for a future that defies all odds and demonstrates that with comprehensive, client-centered HIV health treatment, even the most marginalized members of the community can find hope, health, and happiness. Tsehaye’s story illustrates the transformative impact of wellness and underscores the importance of continued support from donors and external partners for a tailored community-based HIV response such as the USAID MULU-KP Activity, to make success stories like this possible.
