“I used to be weak, with frequent fevers, skin rash and I had lost weight” Mawanda Magezi a 42 years old resident of Buccuma village, Kigoma parish- Nyabubare-Bushenyi district, narrates as he recalls how his health conditions used to be before he knew his HIV status. Mawanda is farmer but a retired solider and a person living with HIV, married and with 3 children.
ICOBI home based voluntary counseling and testing strategy provided Mawanda and his family an opportunity to know their HIV status. It was in February 2005 when a team of Resident Parish Mobilizer (RPM) in collaboration with LCI chairman visited his family. The purpose of the visit was to mobilize and sensitize the family about HIV/AIDS including counseling and testing in a home setting and an appointment was made on when the sub-county team (counselor and Lab Assistant) would come to his home.