Alice Atieno Rabilo is a 44-year-old mentor mother, working at Malanga Health Centre, Gem Sub-County in Siaya County. Born in Akala village, she later got married and moved to Lundha to start her family. Alice is as a source of inspiration to women living with HIV in her community in her role as a Mentor Mother. Looking back, the journey to being a mentor mother started with her own battle.
In 2006, her husband, who used to work as a security guard at a big hotel in Naivasha, came home one weekend. He was not okay and suddenly fell ill. He would speak to himself or would worry so much when Alice would step out. Sadly, he passed away shortly.
She did not understand the circumstances that led to his death; no one did. She gave her testament about their journey in marriage and the long-distance relationship, trials, and triumphs. After his burial, everyone kept saying that she would not survive and that she should get married to someone else, but that was the last thing on her mind.
On the sidelines, her uncle advised her to get tested at the local hospital to know her status. She did not understand why her uncle would even think of such, but she heeded the call. One morning, she went to Yala Sub-County hospital and asked to get tested. She was taken to a counsellor, advised, and had a blood sample drawn.
When she got her results, she was in disbelief. She had tested positive for HIV. She thought about her 6-month-old baby, who depended on her to survive, and her two other children. Her world came crumbling. She cried, and when tears could not come out anymore, she started treatment. The health worker who attended to her asked her to bring her children to the hospital to be tested, but she had no strength to do so at that time, but she swore to take them when she was ready.
She later went back to her home and was transferred to Malanga Health Centre, where she was started on Antiretroviral therapy (ART). Her children turned negative after testing, and her biggest role was to ensure the young ones remained negative.
She became focused on taking her medication and making life better for her small children, who were now her motivation.
In 2015, after becoming so engaged with the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Department at Malanga Health Facility, she was selected to become a mentor mother. This followed training that equipped her intensively. Her main target after that became to ensure that all children of HIV-positive mothers remain negative.
Under her wings as a mentor mother are 106 women between the ages of 19 and 45. She is most proud because none of the children born to these women have turned positive.
She informs us that once a woman comes to the health facility and is directed to her, she starts by counselling them, taking them through what needs to be done, and encouraging them to be strong for their children.
She then equips the mother with her drugs and, if pregnant, also drugs for the unborn child that should be started after birth. This is normally done earlier so that in case the woman decides to give birth somewhere else, she is already equipped with the necessary drugs she needs to take care of herself and her baby.
“People have called me names like “Community Ambulance” because I do not get tired of assisting women. Some come to the facility for health talks or just clinics, and have no fare to return home or food for their children. When they ask for my help, I give without fail,” says Alice.
Alice is a skilled tailor, and through her childhood and teenage life growing up in Akala, she never thought that one day she would be serving her community in this manner. But she is so proud of her work and impact.
She normally conducts health talks in the facility, attends community barazas, and uses that platform to educate people, especially women, about HIV/AIDS.
She has attended several trainings to sharpen her abilities, and through that, she has travelled to various towns in Kenya, like Muranga, Makueni, Thika, and even Uganda, to spread HIV awareness.
“People don’t believe that I am HIV positive. I look normal, with no rashes or anything to show, because I take care of myself. Those who take their medication faithfully see a difference. Some of the women under my wings have given birth to up to five children, all negative, and they are still on ART.”
Her lastborn, who was 6 months old when she found out her status, is now 15 years old. She has made it public information in her house that her children know her status and she encourages them to take care of themselves.
Centre for Health Solutions Kenya (CHS) has changed my life. Through the stipend that I get, I take care of my family. Mentally, I have grown over the years. I am not where I used to be. Through the knowledge that I have, I keep educating the community and contributing to ending the HIV burden in Siaya County,” Alice explains.
CHS, through Shinda Tena project and with funding from the US President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been implementing and expanding HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in Siaya County.
Mentor mothers provide valuable emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of community for those navigating life with HIV. They act like mother figures and add an extra layer of support, offering guidance. The program aims to improve the quality of life for those living with HIV and reduce the isolation and discrimination they may face.
