He tested for HIV, denied results but later united with the wife

In June 2010, a couple HCT (CHCT) outreach activity was conducted in Ochapa trading centre, Serere district. The outreach coincided with a market day and as a result, the turn-up was high.

As the AIDS Information Centre team of service providers was conducting the HIV Counselling and Testing outreach, a 58 years old gentleman called James Ajena made a decision to make use of the free HCT services by taking an HIV test. He later disclosed to Counselor that he is a water vendor in the main market in Soroti town and that his home is in Kikinjaji-East Cell although his rural home is in Ajeru Village, Obule Parish in Tubur Sub-county, Soroti district. Married to Lucy Atekit (50 years old), James and Lucy had seperated six months ago.

James was counseled and tested for HIV and given HIV negative results. After receiving the results, the Counselor observed that James was not contented with the results. On realizing this, the counselor probed further to find out whether the client had understood results and his reply was,” yes, I understood but you are deceiving me, please tell me the truth”.

He was then asked why he was denying the results. James explained that he had tested HIV positive from a health centre in Soroti. When he disclosed the results to his wife, she immediately separated from him because she had earlier on tested HIV negative. The counselor went ahead to explain to James why this can happen. He further explained to him that tests done by AIC are done by skilled and experienced technical staff to ensure a high level of accuracy. The counselor suggested a repeat test to be done which James accepted. The test result once again turned out to be HIV negative. James was so pleased with the outcome. The counselor helped James to disclosure his HIV status to the wife.

The Counselor kept in touch with him and after one week he came back with his wife to AIC Soroti branch for couple testing as he had promised and both of them were counseled, tested and received results as a couple. The HIV results were all negative.

The couple counseling and testing helped them to re-unite as husband and wife and they are now happily living together as a family of eight people.

A month later, they came back to re-test and still they tested HIV negative and this left the couple very happy and decided to join a post test club and couple club at AIC Soroti branch. Today James calls himself an AIC ambassador in his village and has taken on the responsibility to sensitize, mobilize and encourage couples at household level to go and test for HIV.