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Antonio Supuleta. Photo: Joel Chiziane / OxfamAUS
Antonio's story
Antonio Supuleta lives in Maputo, Mozambique. In 2002 he found out he was HIV positive and became a founding member of our partner organisation Tinhena. This is his story.
“I was working at a car dealer company and then I was fired when they discovered I was positive. I told a colleague in confidence that I was tested and was positive. He didn’t keep the secret. He spread it in the company, so they arranged ways to fire me and I was unemployed.
“And then because of that, I starting meeting with other positive people at the voluntary counselling and testing centre. We used to have weekly meetings on Wednesdays. Everyone would talk about the difficulties and problems they were having. Because of that we decided it was better to create a group - that’s how Tinhena started.
“Now, with Oxfam’s support, we have machines and this sewing project. Project co-ordinator Zita Muchero was the one who taught us to do that. The sewing work helps a lot, As a sick person with a lot of problems, when I’m here, I feel better.
“Because of this project, I’m no longer unemployed. I can work and that makes me feel better.
“In 2002, when I was tested, it was almost impossible to talk about HIV and AIDS openly. It was very difficult. But now it is very different. Everyone knows my status. Also in my area, where I live, I visit people, some of our members. I do home visits, we talk, we are open.
“I’m from Zambezia in the north. I have my wife there and four children. I left Zambezia to work here in Maputo. When I arrived here I also had another wife. Then I got an abscess and was treated at the hospital several times. The abscess kept coming back. Because I was aware of HIV from reading newspapers, I asked the doctor if he could refer me to the voluntary counselling and testing centre.
“The doctor said, ‘you are a great man for doing this’.
“After I found out I was positive I went home and told my wife my status. I told her to get tested. She did; she was positive too. But she was in denial. She didn’t believe it. She left me and now I am alone.
“My wife in Zambezia, she died. Before she left, she sold the house so she could get medical treatment. Two of my children have died as well. I have two children left. They live with my cousin. I don’t have suitable conditions to bring them here. I think they are better where they are.
“Tinhena is everything for me. Tinhena is part of my family. My hope. If I leave Tinhena I would die. I would have lost my life. Being part of Tinhena is keeping me alive.”
