The power of knowledge

A story of Local Response by Nicholas Mbugua

The family is together even today.

When we know our status, we can act with confidence.

When we do not know our status, we may do things that we do not want to do.

In 2009, my union organised a family day for truck drivers and their families. At these events, we normally offer HIV testing (VCT service) and we organise sessions on HIV awareness.

During the family day, I noticed one of our truck drivers who had been separated from his wife for about 7 years. They had two children. I noticed that his wife has also come to the day, but separately.

I went straight to the man and took hold of his hand and then held his wife’s hand. I requested them to have their status known to each one of them. They were both tested and were found to be HIV negative. They immediately reunited despite the long time that they had been separated.