by Christine Lagat
NAIROBI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Jacinta Mulatya has easy humor and eloquence that has earned her speaking slots in prestigious gatherings in Kenya and beyond.
The 66-year-old mother of four was diagnosed with the HIV virus in 2004 yet her courageous spirit is yet to be diminished in spite of living with a disease that is associated with misery and death since its discovery in Kenya 22 years ago.
Like many women of her generation, Mulatya defied huge cultural obstacles to become an accomplished teacher and a mentor to the younger generation in her hometown located in lower eastern parts of Kenya.
Having lived with the Aids virus for twelve years, the retired teacher has grown accustomed to rampant stigma and hostility from the wider society yet she is unbowed in her determination to live and make a mark in the universe.
During an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of a health forum held in Nairobi on Thursday, Mulatya narrated her painful ordeal in the hands of close relatives and friends after she was diagnosed with the HIV virus.
"Being declared HIV positive back in the day was similar to a death sentence but my boundless faith in a better tomorrow has sustained me so far despite emotional cruelty from the society," said Mulatya.
She revealed that her sister succumbed to Aids related complications in 2001 forcing her to adopt the orphaned children.
Currently a vocal campaigner on the plight of elderly people living with HIV/Aids in Kenya, Mulatya hailed incremental progress made in raising their visibility to decision makers.
"We are slowly being recognized as a demographic that is both infected and affected by HIV/Aids. The disease has always been associated with the young but is currently ravaging senior citizens," Mulatya remarked.
She belongs to a growing rank of elderly people in Kenya who are living with HIV/Aids yet policy and biomedical interventions to address their plight are still negligible.
According to statistics from Kenya's ministry of health, an estimated 5.6 percent of people aged 50 to 64 years are currently living with HIV/Aids.
Mulatya told Xinhua that majority of her elderly peers are ignorant about the killer diseases despite their vulnerability.
"At the grassroots, many elderly people are still unaware of the dangers of unprotected sex. They hardly test for the HIV virus while age-friendly treatment services are very limited," said Mulatya.
She decried rising cases of non communicable diseases among elderly people living with HIV/Aids.
"Cancer and diabetes cases have been reported among older people who are living with HIV/Aids in my locality. Some have complained of side effects linked to anti-retroviral therapy (ART)," Mulatya told Xinhua.
Mike Kanyingi, the head of a support group that offers psychosocial support to elderly people living with HIV/Aids agreed that non communicable diseases have taken a toll on them.
"We have documented many cases of elderly people living with Aids who succumbed to either cancer or diabetes. The worst part is when their immediate family and close friends abandon them due to their condition," said Kanyingi.
The 60 year old father of five is HIV negative but his 38 year old daughter has lived with the Aids virus for many years.
His empathy towards people living with the disease has won him recognition in Kenya and the wider east African region.
"Since 2002, I have vigorously campaigned against stigma and discrimination meted on HIV positive citizens in this country. The elderly ones have borne the brunt of the stigma," Kanyingi said.
Kenya should enact policy and legislative frameworks that strengthen treatment and care for elderly citizens living with HIV/ Aids.
Gary Jones, a senior advisor at the United Nations Aids Program said that elderly people are a reservoir of knowledge and expertise that could be harnessed to promote Aids awareness, care and treatment.
"The old people can be the best champions for a more coherent response to HIV/Aids since they are endowed with tremendous resilience and knowledge," Jones said.
