HELPING CHILDREN UNDERSTAND WHAT HIV IS AND HOW TO BE HEALTHY.... |
Elliot, 14, has been a patient at TTF since 2012. His main passions are football and learning English so ensuring he is healthy is essential to allowing him to continue to be involved with his local football team. Both of Elliots parents work very hard to make sure they have the money so he and his 4 siblings can go to school so we at TTF work just as hard to make suer he is healthy enough to. With regular support to his family and Elliot through nutrition, support groups and HIV education programs Elliot is doing very well indeed. This is his story in his words.
"BATMAN WOULD DEFINITELY BEAT SUPERMAN IN A FIGHT BECAUSE HE HAS THE EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS TO FIGHT BACK"
"I have been a patient at TTF since 2012, and started taking medication in 2013, but I didn't know why. I often wanted to ask but worrying thoughts came into my head so I never did. Then this year my mum came to me and explained that I was HIV+, what that meant and that was the reason I was taking the pills.
The counselors at TTF had helped her to explain HIV to me, but I was still a bit confused and scared. So soon after I started coming to TTF every weekend for a support group. During this time we were asked questions about how we felt about being HIV+ and a lot of the children had the same answers as me, which made be feel good and less like I was the only one. I really liked the questions we got asked during the retreats, and the games we played - plus I got to have chicken and chips!
TTF also introduced me to a friend who is HIV+. She comes to my house and calls me regularly to talk about problems I am facing and helps to answer some of the questions I have. I like coming to TTF because the people are nice, and help me to understand how to be healthy through a balanced diet and taking my medication.
This year I have been able to play football a lot, I am a striker and I have been scoring lots of goals recently. I also have been able to go to school all the time. My teacher came to me recently me and told me I had done great this year which made me feel really good. I like school because it helps me to have a better future. When I grow up I want to be a lawyer so I can help the good guys like Batman.
Now I know I am HIV+ I feel a lot better about the medication. And when the worrying thoughts come into my head I know I have people to talk to about this at TTF and through my buddy or my mum."
The counselors at TTF had helped her to explain HIV to me, but I was still a bit confused and scared. So soon after I started coming to TTF every weekend for a support group. During this time we were asked questions about how we felt about being HIV+ and a lot of the children had the same answers as me, which made be feel good and less like I was the only one. I really liked the questions we got asked during the retreats, and the games we played - plus I got to have chicken and chips!
TTF also introduced me to a friend who is HIV+. She comes to my house and calls me regularly to talk about problems I am facing and helps to answer some of the questions I have. I like coming to TTF because the people are nice, and help me to understand how to be healthy through a balanced diet and taking my medication.
This year I have been able to play football a lot, I am a striker and I have been scoring lots of goals recently. I also have been able to go to school all the time. My teacher came to me recently me and told me I had done great this year which made me feel really good. I like school because it helps me to have a better future. When I grow up I want to be a lawyer so I can help the good guys like Batman.
Now I know I am HIV+ I feel a lot better about the medication. And when the worrying thoughts come into my head I know I have people to talk to about this at TTF and through my buddy or my mum."