Miriam's story
Miriam M. Shamabobo runs a small, well-stocked shop near the Ngombe clinic in Zambia. A small side-room decorated with posters about ARV treatment and good nutrition is the base for NZP+ zone 7, a partner of the Alliance’s ACER treatment support project.
Miriam is the coordinator of NZP+ zone 7.
“I look after seven support groups with 20 people in each group. I have three children. When I learned my status in 2003, I thought I should join a support group. Soon after, I realised I wanted to help my fellow people living with HIV. I have learned so much doing this – how to look after yourself, to live positively, treatment adherence and to eat certain foods; ones that don’t have to be expensive, just nutritious and balanced.
“ACER has taught me the five main activities to include in the support group. These are: information and advice on HIV and AIDS, income-generating activities, psychological support and problem sharing, administration and finally just regular social activities. We play football, go for a picnic and pass an afternoon just letting ourselves forget about this whole thing.
“Lots of people come in because of the shop. I am open with my status and they can talk to me about things that they may fear about their health. I have met lots of people who were so scared. They didn’t want to go for voluntary counselling and testing and I have helped them with that. I told them, knowing your status gives you power – it means you know what you need to do for your life.
“I feel really great with NZP+ and ACER. We encourage each other when we are feeling down and I feel better myself if I can help someone through a period of difficulty.”
