I salute all the women who made me

This international women's day, I want to celebrate the women who made me who I am. They are so many, I cannot mention them all. If I did, I would take up the whole newspaper. But they know themselves. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • In many of the activism programs we have had, majority of the participants have been women from informal settlements. They know that they have nothing to lose; so they take on repressive legislation and/or multi-national drug companies by the horns.
  • Then there were sisters in the media who told our stories; and those in private companies and drug firms who made sure we had supplies to cater for our members’ needs.
  • Former First Lady, Lucy Kibaki, and the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) team, pushed our agenda.

This international women's day, I want to celebrate the women who made me who I am.

They are so many, I cannot mention them all. If I did, I would take up the whole newspaper. But they know themselves. 

Here they are …

My HIV-positive sisters in informal settlements

A big chunk of my work revolves around people living with HIV, who live in informal settlements.

These peoples’ enormous reservoirs of hope can be plugged into the national grid and light up the entire country.

Whereas some of us middle class folks live and die with our HIV issues, these sisters are not afraid to share their experiences.

Their reaching out goes a long way in helping other HIV-infected people.

In many of the activism programs we have had, majority of the participants have been women from informal settlements.

They know that they have nothing to lose; so they take on repressive legislation and/or multi-national drug companies by the horns.

They may be gored in the process, but, just like Rosa Parks, their refusal to be intimidated into submission always, in the long run, yields positive results for all…even their sitting-pretty sisters in the suburbs.

Sisters, I am emboldened by your courage.

Women who opened their hearts and hearths to orphans

As a startup organisation 20-plus years ago, one issue that threw a curveball at us was the increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children.

We did not know what to do with these children who were not only without parental care, but also homeless. Their property had been grabbed by greedy relatives, some even before their surviving parent was laid to rest.

We tried as best as we could to mitigate this situation. We organised for some of the children to live with willing relatives, but these were few.

Many myths about HIV were not yet dispelled, so these children had to live with the stigma brought about by what they could not understand.

Sometimes we took the children in, but with our meager resources, it was always a struggle.

Enter children’s homes. Two such institutions will always remain in my heart. One, Imani Children’s Home, founded by a friend, Faith, the other, New Life Home Trust, founded by Clive and Mary Beckenham.

These homes were our first ports of call whenever we had a vulnerable child, and did not know where to turn. Because of these individuals, many orphans and vulnerable children, who may otherwise have been caught in the vicious cycle of HIV, now lead meaningful lives.

Ladies and Gentleman, I am humbled by your kindness.

Women in authority who gave us platforms

For every generation facing a life-or-extinction issue, there is an Esther.

In the Dark Days, when anyone associated with HIV was stigmatised, many women in authority who gave us help did so anonymously.

Still, their support went a long way in giving us, who were physically in the frontlines, the energy to keep on going.

Later, many of these prominent personalities openly showed support for us. They held this saying to be true: “We may not be HIV-infected, but we are all affected”.

I am thankful to sisters in private and public health institutions and the Ministry of Health who saw to it that our concerns were addressed.

Then there were sisters in the media who told our stories; and those in private companies and drug firms who made sure we had supplies to cater for our members’ needs.

Former First Lady, Lucy Kibaki, and the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) team, pushed our agenda.

The silent, albeit loaded message was; if the First Lady can get in the trenches, who are you to sit back?

Sisters, I am awed by your concern.

Donors who filled our stores with goodies

I have lost count of the number of women who chipped in, with whatever they could, which made a big difference.

Some brought in bundles of clothes, then left, without as much as a fanfare. Others came loaded with foodstuff.

Which meant that the orphans and vulnerable children in our care would now be fed, and have the energy to go to school.

These women came from far and wide. One, a Member of Parliament in the UK, always organised thousands of gift boxes each Christmas for our dear kids.

In their small, medium and big ways, these women gave us a huge part of themselves: their hearts.

Sisters, I am indebted because of your generosity.