Getting through difficult times

Monica and Morrison are recieving help from CAFOD's programme in Zimbabwe. [CAFOD]

When Monica fell pregnant, she was worried the child would be HIV positive. But thanks to the help of CAFOD's partner in Zimbabwe, her daughter was born healthy

Monica and her husband Morrison are both HIV positive. They live in Zimbabwe with their four children – three of which are HIV positive too.

Their son Leroy died in 2007. But their youngest – named Tadiwanshe which means “We have been loved by God” - is not infected.

“I went to get tested in 2000 when I became very ill,” says Monica, holding Tadiwanshe on her lap. “I found out I was positive – so my husband Morrison decided to get tested too”.

“When I got pregnant again, we decided to seek advice about what we could do”.

Living with HIV

CAFOD is supporting local organisation Seke Rural Home Based Care who have been helping families like Monica’s to live with HIV.

The couple received training in how to prevent the virus being transmitted to their unborn child.

“I carried the neverapin drug with me wherever I went for the last two months of my pregnancy” explains Monica. “When I was giving birth, I asked the staff at the health clinic to give me the drug”.

When their youngest daughter was tested, she was HIV negative. “We were so happy” Monica says.

In recent months, CAFOD had used emergency funds from its Harvest Appeal to distribute food to families struggling to survive in Zimbabwe.

Monica receives an emergency food parcel from Seke Rural including maize meal, pulses and cooking oil. They have also received support in growing their own food.

“We have learned how to look after our crops” said Monica, proudly, tending to her vegetable garden. “We know how to apply fertiliser and ant hill soil, and mulch grass and stalks”.

Monica also received two goats from Seke Rural – one of which was sold to buy chickens and guinea fowls, who lay eggs for the family to eat.

“I would like to thank CAFOD and Seke Rural for helping my family to survive at a difficult time. I hope the next harvest will be bountiful”.

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