SEMUS – turning lives around
27 May 2008
Antoine Nanéma and Lisetta Ouédraogo Yako tell us about the impact that SEMUS – one of the Alliance’s partners in Burkina Faso – has had on their lives.
Antoine Nanéma
Antoine discovered that he was HIV-positive in 2002. He had been suffering from bouts of malaria and his health wasn’t improving. His uncle suggested he get an HIV test at CTA (Centre de Traitement Ambulatoire), a state-run body, where he discovered his status.
But medical costs at CTA proved prohibitive. Case fees were US $12, and antiretroviral treatment cost $6 per month. Any other medicines were an additional cost.
In 2005, Antoine’s uncle asked that he be transferred to SEMUS. His younger brother took him there from the hospital, weighing just 47kg and unable to walk.
Antoine started antiretroviral treatment in 2006. At SEMUS, it costs around $1 a month, and if there’s a problem with supplies, he’s given a prescription to take to the pharmacy.
Antoine’s weight has increased to 63.5kg. He feels much better and is eating well. He volunteers at the counselling and testing centre and participates in other SEMUS activities.
Antoine has told his brothers and his uncle about his HIV status. "There comes a time when you're lying in bed with no idea of how to cope and it’s good to tell someone," he says.
But he hasn’t told his parents. “In Africa, when you say you’re HIV-positive, that’s it, it's all over,” he says. “But it's not all over at all. I'm not going to be able to tell everyone but I know who I can trust. I'm not ashamed of being at SEMUS. I have accepted that I am a patient.”
“I live with my younger brother, his wife and four children in the same courtyard. With what little we have, we prepare our food and eat together. We help each other. The problem now is a lack of work."
Lisetta Ouédraogo Yako
Lisetta was always getting headaches and fevers. She went to the hospital to see if it was malaria. They gave her medicine, but the headaches and fevers kept returning.
Her uncle, who had heard of SEMUS through educational chats and radio broadcasts, told her to go for an HIV test. Her aunt knew where SEMUS was and took her there.
Lisetta took the test and two days later discovered she was HIV-positive.
Through SEMUS, Lisetta has been on antiretroviral treatment since June 2006. Her health has improved immensely.
She has told her uncle’s wife how to give her medicine should she ever fall ill: every morning and evening at 7 o’clock.
The family continue to eat with her and people even come to ask her for soap because they know that SEMUS brings some when they come to visit.
As she is now feeling better, she is able to earn a little money cleaning people’s houses and washing their clothes. This gives her a small but steady income although she would like to be able to fully support herself through work. She has two children but only one of them lives with her.
Lisetta is now involved in peer support groups and this helps her; she encourages others to get involved too.
About SEMUS
SEMUS (Association Solidarité et Entraide Mutuelle au Sahel) – a local development organisation – started its HIV work in 2000. 60% of its activities are now HIV-focused. The Alliance’s linking organisation in Burkina Faso – Initiative Privée et Communautaire de lutte Contre le VIH/SIDA au Burkina Faso (IPC) – is one of SEMUS’s main donors. With IPC’s support, SEMUS has been able to set up a voluntary counselling and testing centre.
