Becoming a Family

Daniel, a boy living in southwest Uganda, began to fall ill in his early years of life. Eventually, his mother took him to Kisoro Hospital, where he was diagnosed with HIV. Initially, Daniel responded well to medication and achieved viral suppression—meaning that HIV became undetectable in his blood.  

However, following his parents’ separation, Daniel encountered difficult times. He lived with his father, who treated him harshly and prohibited him from taking his medication. His father also obstructed health workers from visiting their home. Daniel’s health worsened.  

Upon the death of Daniel’s father, the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program started supporting his education. They came to visit him at his home.  

 “We discovered Daniel sleeping on piles of sorghum while his stepmother, Claudia Tushemerere, slept on two mattresses,” says Justine Mpirirwe, a counselor at Kisoro Hospital.  

Claudia told the counselor that she had a negative view of Daniel because of her own struggles. Shortly after marrying Daniel’s father, she became pregnant. During her sixth month of pregnancy, she discovered that she, too, was living with HIV.  

“I was angry and lost my peace of mind,” said Claudia. “Every time I looked at Daniel, I felt rage, realizing I had contracted the virus from his father—and I didn’t care if Daniel refused to take his medication.” 

Justine Mpirirwe and his colleague Jenina Musabyimana approached Claudia with empathy. They urged her to regard Daniel as her own child. Claudia softened her approach.  

“Over time, I started loving myself and treating Daniel like my own son, ensuring he takes his drugs. In fact, when Daniel … runs to remind me that it is time for us to take our medicine,” Claudia says. 

“[Daniel] runs to remind me that it is time for us to take our medicine.” – Claudia

Their repeated encouragement transformed Claudia and today she is dedicated to caring for Daniel, now 9-years-old, and ensuring he takes his medication. Together, they have achieved viral suppression, creating a loving environment where Daniel can thrive.  

Claudia highlights the importance of the psychosocial support offered under the ViiV-funded Breakthrough Partnership project, which encompasses patient home visits and community outreach initiatives.

Claudia advocates for ViiV’s support in training peers to enhance their knowledge and equip them to continue their community engagement effectively. 

*Why do we use illustrations? Sometimes people agree to share their story but are uncomfortable with also sharing their image due to stigma and/or privacy concerns. In these cases, we use illustrations to help tell the story while protecting the privacy of the individual. Illustrations are not meant to depict a specific person.