She is Masindi’s torch bearer in HIV prevention
Oct 02, 2009
Nalongo Hasfa Nassozi, commonly known as Maama Nalongo is the leader of the Masindi District Mama’s Club – an association of HIV positive mothers.
By Chris Kiwawulo
This year, to commemorate the World AIDS Day, December 1, The New Vision, in conjunction with the parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDs, will award individuals who have played a remarkable role in the fight against HIV in their communities. Profiles of the nominees from which winners of awards will be selected will be published till November.
Nalongo Hasfa Nassozi, commonly known as Maama Nalongo is the leader of the Masindi District Mama’s Club – an association of HIV positive mothers.
The 38-year-old resident of Masindi town has come to terms with living positively ever since she got to know her sero status four years ago.
“After the death of my husband Samuel Rwamurungi, I went through two years of on-and-off sickness. On September 9, 2005, I decided to go for a test. The results showed I was positive. I then told my family members,†she freely narrates.
Nassozi is a role model among people living positively. She also offers aromatherapy and reflexology to patients at The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) Masindi centre.
Unlike many other people, Nassozi says she has never felt stigmatised since she went public because she accepted her condition.
She is one of the over 2000 HIV patients on Antiretroviral Drugs (ARVs) at TASO Masindi, and has chosen to abstain from sex so as to live longer.
When Nassozi started taking ARVs in 2005, her CD4 count was 67. It is now at 501. She takes Neverapine, Truvada and Septrin regularly to boost it further.
Nassozi looks so healthy that during a TASO week at Kijura village in Masindi recently, many disputed the fact that she is living positively. Some claim TASO uses her to promote the use ARVs for positive living.
Nassozi has encouraged many patients through counseling and words of encouragement. She advises them to take their ARVs regularl.
Mary Mukonyezi is one of the people Nassozi has given a new life. Mukonyezi has benefited from Nassozi’s aromatherapy and counseling services.
“She is a very kind woman. She will receive you in whatever mood you approach her. She is a mother to both the young and old. She helped me recover when my health had deteriorated by encouraging me to take ARVs regularly and to abstain,†she says.
Mukonyezi has also learned to counsel others. She recently, enrolled for training in administering aromatherapy. She now works alongside Nassozi, who she regards as her mentor.
Immaculate Kabajenje and Atuhairwe Sylvia are also living positively. They commend Nassozi for being supportive and encouraging to them and other poor but positive residents of Masindi.
Leonard Kibirige, a clinical officer at TASO Masindi, who nominated Nassozi as his role model in fighting HIV/AIDS, describes her as a courageous woman.
“I have never met a woman who is at the forefront of fighting HIV like this one. Many people come secretly, test and do not come back. When she tested, she came back to ask how she can cope and encourages others to test,†notes Kibirige.
According to Kyetume Kasanga, Masindi district’s acting assistant Chief Administrative Officer and Naboth Mugisha, a senior driver at TASO Masindi, Nassozi is a big resource in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Many who go to her foe counselling end up as counselors themselves. This chain will go on and on until stigma is dealt with and people can live longer,†Nassozi says.
She is a mother of three boys (two sets of twins). Unfortunately, one of the second pair of twins passed on.
The first born twins, Hassan Wasswa and Hussein Kato are 18 years and are in S.5 at Jordan Pride Secondary and Kabalega Secondary School respectively.
The surviving twin is Umar Kato Sekonde, who is 15 years old. Sekonde dropped out of school in primary five when he developed a mental disorder, forcing Nassozi to take him for vocational training in mechanical engineering. Nassozi says she is the first born on her mother’s side but does not know the number of her siblings on her father’s side, “because my dad has over 50 children, many of whom are older than me,†she says.
Nassozi has also ensured that all her family members test for HIV so that they can know their sero status and plan for their future.
Started in 2004, TASO Masindi handles scores of patients on their clinic days of Tuesday and Friday. On those days, Nassozi handles about 20 patients. However, can only offer aroma therapy and reflexology to six people a day since she spends about one-and-a-half hours on every patient.
“We offer the treatment for six weeks although some people heal before that time elapses. However, if a person is severely ill, we cannot touch them lest they die,†notes Nassozi.
She says she uses essential oils extracted from plants for the aromatherapy. Sniffing the oil can make one heal.
In the process, Nassozi also inhales and absorbs the oils. To avoid having excess oils in the body, she alternates the sessions with three other aroma-therapists.
She trained in administering aromatherapy in Mukono-Ntawo centre for aromatherapy and reflexology at Kanyanya training centre.
Nassozi went to Masindi public school for her primary before she joined Masindi and Ikoba Girls schools for O’level education. She later enrolled for a catering course at Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Kampala.
A staunch Muslim, Nassozi could not fast because she had to take her tablets and has developed chronic ulcers.
Though it is everyone’s responsibility to remind Nassozi to take her ARVs, children do it better. “They are my treatment supporters. They remind me from time to time,†she says.
In Masindi town, Nassozi is known for distributing condoms to the youth as a way of helping them to protect their lives if they cannot abstain from sex.
Positive living
Have a balanced diet
Be hygienic
Exercise regularly
Avoid alcohol
Abstain or avoid unprotected sex
Take ARVs regularly and on time
Never take ARVs after four hours of your normal swallowing time
Never take forgotten drugs with a new day’s dose
Treat opportunistic infections like malaria and cough
Have enough rest
Avoid overworking
Manage stress
Share experiences with others living positively to reflect on how to live longer.
Tips on abstaining
Nassozi says one must accept the fact that they have HIV/AIDS and that having it is not the end of the world.
She argues that it is only those with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude that cannot abstain.
Keeping oneself busy with work and associating with friends helps one to keep away from temptation.
When approached by potential suitors, Nassozi says she tells them the truth about her sero status and her resolution to abstain.
For those who insist, Nassozi advises that they take a test together before they can have sex. This is when the majority chicken out.
This year, to commemorate the World AIDS Day, December 1, The New Vision, in conjunction with the parliamentary committee on HIV/AIDs, will award individuals who have played a remarkable role in the fight against HIV in their communities. Profiles of the nominees from which winners of awards will be selected will be published till November.
Nalongo Hasfa Nassozi, commonly known as Maama Nalongo is the leader of the Masindi District Mama’s Club – an association of HIV positive mothers.
The 38-year-old resident of Masindi town has come to terms with living positively ever since she got to know her sero status four years ago.
“After the death of my husband Samuel Rwamurungi, I went through two years of on-and-off sickness. On September 9, 2005, I decided to go for a test. The results showed I was positive. I then told my family members,†she freely narrates.
Nassozi is a role model among people living positively. She also offers aromatherapy and reflexology to patients at The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO) Masindi centre.
Unlike many other people, Nassozi says she has never felt stigmatised since she went public because she accepted her condition.
She is one of the over 2000 HIV patients on Antiretroviral Drugs (ARVs) at TASO Masindi, and has chosen to abstain from sex so as to live longer.
When Nassozi started taking ARVs in 2005, her CD4 count was 67. It is now at 501. She takes Neverapine, Truvada and Septrin regularly to boost it further.
Nassozi looks so healthy that during a TASO week at Kijura village in Masindi recently, many disputed the fact that she is living positively. Some claim TASO uses her to promote the use ARVs for positive living.
Nassozi has encouraged many patients through counseling and words of encouragement. She advises them to take their ARVs regularl.
Mary Mukonyezi is one of the people Nassozi has given a new life. Mukonyezi has benefited from Nassozi’s aromatherapy and counseling services.
“She is a very kind woman. She will receive you in whatever mood you approach her. She is a mother to both the young and old. She helped me recover when my health had deteriorated by encouraging me to take ARVs regularly and to abstain,†she says.
Mukonyezi has also learned to counsel others. She recently, enrolled for training in administering aromatherapy. She now works alongside Nassozi, who she regards as her mentor.
Immaculate Kabajenje and Atuhairwe Sylvia are also living positively. They commend Nassozi for being supportive and encouraging to them and other poor but positive residents of Masindi.
Leonard Kibirige, a clinical officer at TASO Masindi, who nominated Nassozi as his role model in fighting HIV/AIDS, describes her as a courageous woman.
“I have never met a woman who is at the forefront of fighting HIV like this one. Many people come secretly, test and do not come back. When she tested, she came back to ask how she can cope and encourages others to test,†notes Kibirige.
According to Kyetume Kasanga, Masindi district’s acting assistant Chief Administrative Officer and Naboth Mugisha, a senior driver at TASO Masindi, Nassozi is a big resource in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
“Many who go to her foe counselling end up as counselors themselves. This chain will go on and on until stigma is dealt with and people can live longer,†Nassozi says.
She is a mother of three boys (two sets of twins). Unfortunately, one of the second pair of twins passed on.
The first born twins, Hassan Wasswa and Hussein Kato are 18 years and are in S.5 at Jordan Pride Secondary and Kabalega Secondary School respectively.
The surviving twin is Umar Kato Sekonde, who is 15 years old. Sekonde dropped out of school in primary five when he developed a mental disorder, forcing Nassozi to take him for vocational training in mechanical engineering. Nassozi says she is the first born on her mother’s side but does not know the number of her siblings on her father’s side, “because my dad has over 50 children, many of whom are older than me,†she says.
Nassozi has also ensured that all her family members test for HIV so that they can know their sero status and plan for their future.
Started in 2004, TASO Masindi handles scores of patients on their clinic days of Tuesday and Friday. On those days, Nassozi handles about 20 patients. However, can only offer aroma therapy and reflexology to six people a day since she spends about one-and-a-half hours on every patient.
“We offer the treatment for six weeks although some people heal before that time elapses. However, if a person is severely ill, we cannot touch them lest they die,†notes Nassozi.
She says she uses essential oils extracted from plants for the aromatherapy. Sniffing the oil can make one heal.
In the process, Nassozi also inhales and absorbs the oils. To avoid having excess oils in the body, she alternates the sessions with three other aroma-therapists.
She trained in administering aromatherapy in Mukono-Ntawo centre for aromatherapy and reflexology at Kanyanya training centre.
Nassozi went to Masindi public school for her primary before she joined Masindi and Ikoba Girls schools for O’level education. She later enrolled for a catering course at Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Kampala.
A staunch Muslim, Nassozi could not fast because she had to take her tablets and has developed chronic ulcers.
Though it is everyone’s responsibility to remind Nassozi to take her ARVs, children do it better. “They are my treatment supporters. They remind me from time to time,†she says.
In Masindi town, Nassozi is known for distributing condoms to the youth as a way of helping them to protect their lives if they cannot abstain from sex.
Positive living
Have a balanced diet
Be hygienic
Exercise regularly
Avoid alcohol
Abstain or avoid unprotected sex
Take ARVs regularly and on time
Never take ARVs after four hours of your normal swallowing time
Never take forgotten drugs with a new day’s dose
Treat opportunistic infections like malaria and cough
Have enough rest
Avoid overworking
Manage stress
Share experiences with others living positively to reflect on how to live longer.
Tips on abstaining
Nassozi says one must accept the fact that they have HIV/AIDS and that having it is not the end of the world.
She argues that it is only those with an ‘I don’t care’ attitude that cannot abstain.
Keeping oneself busy with work and associating with friends helps one to keep away from temptation.
When approached by potential suitors, Nassozi says she tells them the truth about her sero status and her resolution to abstain.
For those who insist, Nassozi advises that they take a test together before they can have sex. This is when the majority chicken out.