Rumbi and Sungi talk about the importance of going for an HIV test even in COVID times. Rumbi explains how to arrange for a test and the different types of test that you can take. Zvandiri and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care produced this animation with the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development. The animation is available in English, Shona and Ndebele

Albeto starts his story by describing the depression and suicidal thoughts he was experiencing at the age of 16 years. He was also tested for HIV at that time and when he reached out for support from him mother, she was angry with him for being HIV positive. Albeto describes how he discovered his mother’s ARVs but she continued ignoring his requests for more information about his HIV status. Albeto tells us how he felt so lonely and stopped adhering to his treatment. This changed when he was linked to a CATS and joined the local Zvandiri support group. He narrates how he no longer felt alone and realized he would be OK. He describes how he hoped that his mother would be proud of him but instead she turned away CATS when they visited him. He became depressed and the CATS, clinic nurses, psychiatric unit and case care workers all worked together to ensure that Albeto received the care and support he needed. This included family therapy sessions with his mother. He describes how his mother came to understand more about Albeto’s needs and experiences and has now disclosed her HIV status and apologized for her lack of support. Albeto reminds us of the need to integrate HIV and mental health services if we are to provide the support which young people living with HIV need.

Ivy is 14 years old. Ivy started ARVs as a small child but at the age of 14, she had not yet been told what the medicines were for. She lived with her Grandmother who told Ivy that the medicines were for a headache, but she did not have a headache. In her film, Ivy describes the anger and confusion she felt and the way she threw all her tablets away when she realized her Grandmother was lying to her. She also stopped attending clinic because her Grandmother couldn’t afford the transport. Ivy narrates how her health continued to deteriorate, she lost trust in everyone and felt that she may as well die. When the clinic asked a CATS to follow up Ivy at home, she began to receive counselling and financial assistance for transport to the clinic. After the death of her mother, Ivy was disclosed to by the health worker who then worked together with the Zvandiri team and CATS to provide post disclosure counselling and adherence support. Although she initially feared that she would die like her mother, Ivy tells us that this has now changed as a result of the continued counselling she has received and the support the CATS is giving to her Grandmother.

Keisha is a 17-year old girl. In her film, she narrates the traumatic circumstances behind her pregnancy, followed by the rejection she experienced from the child’s father and her own family. Forced to move away from home, she registered the pregnancy in another town and found she was HIV positive. She describes the sense of hopelessness, loneliness, shame and suicidal ideation she experienced. However, she did continue with PMTCT services and at 6 weeks, her baby was HIV negative. In her film, Keisha describes how an opportunity arose for her to be trained as a Young Mentor Mother in the Zvandiri Programme. She narrates how she became an expert in supporting other young mums like her and encouraging them to adhere. Keisha’s story clearly demonstrates the transformative effect of engaging young people as peer supporters, both for the peer supporter and the peer – she now knows she is not worthless but that others depend on her to support them.

Nyasha is 18 years old. In her film, she narrates the story of the stigma and discrimination she experienced from her aunt’s family when growing up. Although her life improved when she began a relationship with her boyfriend, this soon came to an end after she disclosed her HIV status to him. He ended the relationship and told others of her HIV status resulting in further stigma and isolation. Nyasha describes the betrayal, anger and depression she experienced, the way she lost the desire to live and how she stopped taking her ARVs. When the clinic linked Nyasha with a CATS for support, Nyasha did not want to engage, but the CATS continued to check in on Nyasha. Over time, Nyasha started to open up and the CATS referred her to the mental health nurse. Through her film, Nyasha highlights the importance of mental health services within HIV care and treatment, and the power of peers in identifying and linking those in need of mental health services and their critical role in the multidisciplinary approach to counselling and support. Nyasha describes how support from the CATS has made her realise that she has a lot to live for and that she too would like to be a CATS so that she can help others like her.

Rutendo is a 12-year old girl who had to stop school as she was always unwell. In her story, she describes how she was tested for HIV and commenced on ARVs. However, although her nurse ensured she understood the medicines and importance of adherence, her father threatened to harm Rutendo if she took the ARVs, opting for faith healing instead. Rutendo describes her confusion – she knew how important the medicines were but also needed to listen to her father. In this story, we learn how the CATS, Department of Social Welfare and nurses worked together with Rutendo and her family; Rutendo went to live with her aunt and uncle and is now doing well on ARVs. Meanwhile the Case Care Worker continues to work with her father so that she may one day return to live with her father and mother. Rutendo narrates how different her life would have been if her father had allowed her to take her medicines.

Sipho is a 15-year old boy who describes a childhood of recurrent illness, hospitalization and medication. In his story, he recounts how he overhead health workers recommending ‘ a test’ but that his relatives refused this; he did not know or understand why. He recollects how isolated he felt from friends who continued to go to school while he had to stay at home. He narrates his fears and worries that he was not getting an education as he was always sick and that he was so much smaller than his friends. Sipho then describes the turning point in his life when a Case Care Worker who was concerned about him referred him to the Zvandiri CATS in his community. The CATS provided counselling and support for Sipho and his caregivers and referred him to the clinic nurse for HIV testing after which he was commenced on ART. Sipho tells us he is now healthy but wishes he had been tested and started on treatment much earlier.

Rumbi and Sungi talk about the importance of going for an HIV test even in COVID times. Rumbi explains how to arrange for a test and the different types of test that you can take. Zvandiri and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care produced this animation with the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development. The animation is available in English, Shona and Ndebele.