Like Hadijah , Ruth lost her husband to AIDS, and refused to become a victim. She’s one of the founders of Mukono AIDS Support Association (MASA), which began in 1992 with just six people, looking for ways to cope with and prevent HIV/AIDS. Now, MASA sees about 50 clients each day, and is a major health care provider in the Mukono district.
MASA offers HIV testing, pre- and post- test counseling, and provides drugs for the treatment of opportunistic infections associated with HIV. One in three people tested at MASA turns out to be HIV positive.
MASA efforts focus on preventing the spread of HIV, as well as making life better for those affected by the virus. A big part of the challenge is communication...Ruth and others at MASA have found a special way to reach out.
For members of the Mukono AIDS Support Association, the act of teaching through song has become an important way to improve HIV prevention and treatment. Fear of stigma can keep people from getting tested, from practicing safer sex and from getting the care and treatment they need. For these reasons, efforts to shift community attitudes about HIV/AIDS are crucial for prevention efforts, and for those who are already living with the virus.
Enter Ewuraba Fashion Gallery