“TOKUMA” Village saving and loan association (VSLA) group which stands for “UNITY” in Affan Oromo is helping many HIV+ women from behind the closet to Walk Self-satisfied and Shining in the Community.

Chuchu, a 45-year-old single mother of two girls, lost her husband eight years ago to HIV/AIDS. Although she knew her HIV-positive status, her fear of stigma and discrimination caused her to suppress her social life and refrain from seeking medical counseling. Her condition additionally made it impossible to keep a job as she experienced the common exhaustive symptoms of HIV. Eventually, Chuchu’s illness and isolation caused her to fall into a state of severe depression.

Unable to support her two daughters, Chuchu decided to connect with the USAID-funded FFHPCTs program. She enrolled in the Family Focus HIV Care and Treatment Service (FFHPCTA) program implemented by MENA Adama SNU and joined the Tokuma VSLA group. Since then, she has found relief as she followed her treatment plan and confidence as her fear of discrimination disappeared.

With a loan from VSLA, Chuchu purchased a small ox and began working on her home garden in Adama City. She then diversified her IGA portfolio and started raising poultry by buying two-layer hens. On top of tending to her hens and vegetables, she also looked after two avocado trees in her homestead. Impressed by such progress, the Tokuma VSLA group offered an extra loan for more husbandry activity.

Chuchu diligently built a new life for herself and her daughters with the help of the FFHPCT programs. As a result of her participation, Chuchu has now become virally suppressed and able to work without health-related setbacks. Today, Chuchu and her daughters possess better financial capacity and have expressed immense gratitude to the relief efforts of USAID/FFHPCT through MENA.