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THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO YOUNG WOMEN LIKE LISWANI

12/7/2020

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Liswani, a Patient at TTF

Liswani is 17 years old and discovered she was living with HIV in 2019 through a routine TTF community testing day. When she learned about her status, she felt alone and did not have anyone to talk to. Liswani would often come to the clinic, always reserved, without saying much. One day she was invited by the TTF counselors to attend the TTF Girls Club, with the intention of help provide her with a support network of peers living with HIV. It was here that this quiet, shy girl revealed her story:

Liswani lived with her stepfather and mother. Only Liswani’s mother knew her status, but one day her stepfather found a bag with her medication and her mother was forced to tell him Liswani had tested positive for HIV. When this occurred everything changed for Liswani. She explained that often her stepfather would throw away any food she prepared for him or even break plates if he saw her using them. She suffered daily stigma and discrimination from her stepfather, and he even stopped paying for her school fees forcing her to drop out of school. With the constant bullying and negativity at home she even thought of committing suicide.

Slowly, with the support of the TTF  Girls Club, Liswani began to find solace in her newfound friends and was able to draw strength from their individual experiences of discrimination and how they dealt with it. By opening up to her peers this young girl has blossomed to being a strong confident young woman. By learning about HIV and acceptance at TTF she has been able to speak to her family about HIV, breaking down barriers and improving her relationship with both her parents.
Liswani with her Mum and TTF Counsellor
Liswani at home
Liswani’s mother was invited to attend a TTF caregiver’s workshop, where she learned about HIV, how to better support her daughter, and how to speak to her husband about HIV transmission, breaking down the misinformation and stigma.

Today, Liswani is virally suppressed and is active in many youth programs offered at TTF.  Liswani hopes she will one day be able to go back to school. She wants to be a nurse and help other girls like her
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Your donation allows us to support girls like Liswani. Please consider supporting us to continue running the Girls Club:
  • $20 pays for three peer counselors to run a Girls Club
  • $60 pays for transport for 20 girls to attend the Girls Club
  • $100 supports one girl to attend 10 weeks of counseling and peer support at the Girls Club

Donate and support our Girls Club >>
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Founders
    • HIV/AIDS - Know the Facts
    • Our People
    • Our Partners
  • What we do
    • FACES & STORIES
    • TTF Clinic
    • Community Outreaches
    • Counselling/ Support Groups
    • EMTCT
    • Nutritional Support
    • Palliative Care
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Fundraise for TTF
    • Give a Gift in Kind
  • TTF Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Contact TTF Zambia
    • Contact TTF USA
    • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Dr Tim
  • Mutumu Nzala Mwape
  • ​Yanga Katongo
  • Amy Tiwari
  • New Page
  • Home 1.1