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Kulucitameri was a traditional birth attendant for many years and delivered numerous babies without wearing gloves. She recently learned HIV could be transmitted during birth, and was worried that she was HIV-positive.

The worry seemed to cripple her. She even thought about committing suicide rather than dying slowly like several people with AIDS living in her community in Lira. Neighbors began to suspect that she might have the deadly disease, and she was often a target of discrimination.

Then Kulucitameri heard an announcement on the radio. Samaritan’s Purse was coming to her village to provide voluntary counseling and testing.

“I thought of going to the health center, but it seemed far, and I never had strength to move or walk,” she said.

Kulucitameri watched as a health worker drew blood and placed a drop on a specially treated strip. Rapid HIV tests do not require laboratory facilities or highly trained medical professionals and take approximately 15 minutes to determine a result.

Northern Uganda is very rural, and many people don’t have access to local health care facilities. It is even more difficult for them to be tested if they are already ill. Mobile clinics bring the service to them. When they know their status, they can make informed decisions about protecting their families and obtaining proper healthcare.

Trained counselors also join our staff during mobile clinic outreaches to provide emotional and spiritual support.

In the first two months after the project began, 10,000 people were tested in rural communities throughout the Lira district.

Kulucitameri was overjoyed when her result came back negative.

“I am now very happy and have peace in my heart,” she said. “I am going to encourage those who are not sure of their HIV status to go for testing.”