I Know Someone: Peter
Peter Komira - Kitgum, Uganda
The AIDS crisis affects over 30 million people in the world, and roughly 23 million of those live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although most of us think of HIV/AIDS as a sexually transmitted disease, 20% of infections are caused by mother-to-child transmission, contaminated needles, and/or medical procedures where infected blood or tissue is transfused or transplanted.
Meet our courageous, young friend Peter Komira. Peter is one of the 20% who contracted the virus from mother-to-child transmission. Peter contracted the virus during labor, but some children can also contract the virus from breastfeeding. For more information on mother-to-child transmission please visit: www.avert.org/motherchild.
At age seven, Peter learned of his HIV+ status which altered the course of his life. Now 15, Peter receives treatment from the New Life Medical Center, a Blood:Water partner clinic in Kitgum, Uganda. However, Peter receives his treatments in secret as he is afraid that his friends may learn of his status and treat him differently. This stigma Peter experiences is common in most of the world, and causes some HIV+ people not seek the care they need.
Blood:Water Mission, Peter, and millions of other people hope that through education and support-groups in communities like Kitgum, stigma will be erased and people that are HIV+ can live openly with their status so that they may receive the care needed to live longer, healthier lives.
Learn more about Peter, and view his story HERE.
Also, learn more about the I Know Someone campaign, and see how you can get involved by clicking HERE.
Lastly, for more in-depth AIDS information, please click HERE.
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