Mercy

Mercy's husband died of HIV/AIDS-causes five years ago, leaving her to take care of their three boys Joseph, Derrick and Eugene.

A few months later, Mercy was forcefully inherited by her brother in law and conceived twin girls, Lolin and Purity. Mercy was consistently sexually abused and was constantly being re-infected with HIV. Her health declined quickly and she spent her days hiding in her mud hut, often bedridden with a shawl covering the rashes that were beginning to spread all over her body.

She was introduced to an ACE counsellor and after time agreed to be tested and discovered that she and her twin girls were HIV+. She was abandoned by the man who had caused her HIV infection and left to raise five children alone. At two years old the twins, Purity and Lolin, were severely malnourished and sick. In 2006, Purity passed away.

Mercy is visited regularly by the ACE counsellors and has received basic medication and nutritional supplements for the family. Mercy has regained her health and weighs 65Kg. She has been trained in how to make nutritional supplements and volunteers her time at the ACE Bulondo Resource Centre, sharing information with others and acting as a testimony to positive living. As her strength improves she will be provided with income generating training to ensure she can provide for her family in the future.