After intense language and cultural training, I was sent to be a health educator in Rombo District, located in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Region. Upon arrival, I immediately began visiting schools and health clinics in order to get a better picture of the health issues facing the 250,000 people who reside in the district.

Upon completion of my initial assessment a few glaring truths became evident to me:

1) HIV is a significant health threat to the people of Rombo District (the district hospital estimates that between 9 and 15 percent of the district population is HIV positive),

2) HIV/reproductive health education was not reaching the young generations,

3) The catholic church, as an organization, was extremely influential and powerful in the district, and

4) Most residents of Rombo had not ever been tested for HIV.

2005, I began coordinating with members of the district council to offer HIV/AIDS/and life skills training workshops to secondary and primary school teachers. During this process, I was introduced to Mama Oska. Immediately, I was struck by her strength, bravery, openness, and desire to help others.
Mama Oska was born in a neighboring district and had moved to Rombo district in the late 80’s when she married her husband. Shortly after moving to Rombo, she became pregnant. Unfortunately, the child passed away just months after he was born. In 1994, she had another child, Oska.

In 1995, when her husband suddenly passed away, she was left with young Oska and many questions. She knew that she had been infected with the same virus that had killed both her first born and her husband so she gave up on life and waited for her death. As time passed, and she learned that both she and Oska were not necessarily doomed to sudden death, she decided should make the best of what they had left. She felt alone but knew that she was not the only one in her community who was facing this horrific disease.
Mama Oska educated herself as best she could on the issue of HIV and then decided to help others by helping herself. In early 2000, together with 3 other HIV positive individuals in the community, she started a support group. It was the first of its kind and its mission was to help people feel more comfortable being open about their HIV status. This group, which had 30 people in 2004, grew to include over 500 individuals by late 2007.

During the 3 years that I spent in Rombo District, Mama Oska and I became extremely close friends and colleagues. We worked together to combat stigma and deliver HIV/AIDS information to village leaders, school teachers, students, and community groups. On many occasions, I saw her bring grown men and women to tears with her bold honesty and openness. She bravely overcame her fear of being judged and constantly calmly confronted those who, quite often just minutes before, were viciously condemning HIV positive individuals for their “loose morals”. Her bravery has inspired countless individuals to get themselves tested, seek counseling, and live positively with HIV.

It is our hope that through supporting her in sharing her story, we can inspire you to make a difference in the lives of others both in your community and globally, just as Mama Oska has.

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