Denial Kills!

Denial Kills!
On a sunny afternoon George, Jane and I went for George’s Pastoral visitation. It was a follow up for George and he and Jane wanted to take the next steps for intervention for Joseph Kangi. He was 38 and with Tuberculosis which was a result of HIV/AIDS.
Jane did the tests and Joseph read the results. Even though he knew that he was HIV+, Joseph wanted to live again. This however was the reality in him. After the tests Joseph was enrolled at a hospital for the continuance of the treatment of TB and the management of HIV/ AIDS. But on arrival to the referral hospital where he was directed and after Jane had filed his case, denial kicked in and Joseph lied to the doctors and what emerges after his death is horrible.
As people brought Joseph home, they knew that he had little time left. Joseph had in a long time lived in denial of his HIV status. He was on and off on the ARV and medication on the opportunistic diseases. The problem is that Joseph discontinued his treatment every time he felt better and strong. This ignorance got him kicked out of several HIV treatment programs.
On the day we visited, he kept talking of how he desired to be well again. Last Friday George was called early to take Joseph to hospital. His health had deteriorated fast in two days and he needed to be taken to hospital. On arrival at the hospital Joseph was admitted. Later George went with Joseph’s mom to some of her children and asked them to check on him. None of them took it seriously. 3days later when one of them went to check on him they found out Joseph died on the day he arrived at the hospital at night. He died through ignorance and denial and it is a pitty.
The serving of Joseph and his family By Mayatima project and the church is spreading like a bush fire. They are talking of the church that has shown concern for the sick and needy. We are starting to see converts: in this week alone 5 people have been saved after the death of Joseph reached the village.
Thank you for being a part of these happenings by partnering with Mayatima project in our call to reach out to our people. To God be the glory forever. Amen. By Emmanuel