Caroline – A Positive Example

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Caroline

Lesotho

35 years

Counselor & single Mom

2 children (7 and 19)

On antiretroviral therapy since 2004

“I think it's very important to be a good example to people so they don't feel being HIV positive is the end of the world.”

It’s been more than six years since Caroline’s second child was born. Her son’s name is Katleho – which means “success” – and it’s a very appropriate name.

Caroline discovered she was HIV positive when she was seven months pregnant. Thanks to successful treatment that prevented mother to child transmission, Katleho was born healthy, and remains HIV negative.(RED) helps finance this important preventative treatment in Lesotho and elsewhere.

Caroline is working as a volunteer counselor in Lesotho helping other people who have HIV. Although life is hard and jobs aren’t easy to come by in Lesotho, Caroline is determined to stand up and be a positive role model to other women and people with HIV: “I just want to be a good example to the nation… that I’ve been living with HIV for so many years and yet I am still strong, I can work, I can do everything that normal people can do.”