Providing shelter and support to distressed HIV+ women

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When Aisha Bogori, a mother of nine, learned and told her husband that she was HIV+, he kicked her out of the house. This is when Fatouma Amel, founder of Nouvel Espoir (Renewed Hope), an association helping over 100 HIV+ women and their children, stepped in. Often, infected women in Djibouti are unfairly accused of promiscuity, and rejected by their families and spouses. Some prefer to hide their status even as they die, while many do not know where to find help. This association provides shelter, treatment and various types of support to infected women undergoing difficulty.

Around the country, over ten community organizations similar to Nouvel Espoir receive free antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other assistance provided through the Global Fund in support of the Government of Djibouti, and in partnership with UNICEF, among others. Listen to Fatouma recounting what she discovered and did about Aisha, while describing her organization’s shelter and support activities.