UGANDA: Christine Atto: "The journey
is difficult, but I walk for my
life"
GULU, 6 October 2008 (PlusNews) -
With the return of relative peace to
northern Uganda, thousands of people
displaced by the conflict have
started the long journey home. Many
are now living in transit camps
between the mother camps and their
villages. Christine Atto, who has
lived in an IDP camp for over 20
years, told IRIN/PlusNews that since
moving to a resettlement camp, she
has to walk 36 kilometres every
month to fetch her antiretroviral
medication.
"I stayed at Parabongo IDP camp in
Amuru district for most of my life.
I came here to Awoo [Resettlement
Camp] just one year ago.
"At Parabongo, I was falling sick,
so they told me to test at the
health centre. There, they referred
me to Lacor [Missionary Hospital in
Gulu town]. I learned I was positive
in 2006. They also tested my small
boy Alfred and he is positive too.
He is on septrin [an antibiotic].
Because I enrolled at Lacor, I must
go there to collect my medicine on
the 11th of every month. I walk 36
kilometres to Gulu town. I prepare
some ground-nuts or roasted cassava,
and I walk for one night and then
sleep at the home of my relative,
and then I walk to town the next
day.
It's difficult to walk with
[four-year-old] Alfred because he is
growing, he is heavy. I am very
tired when I have reached. The
hardest is the placed called Keyo
because there are many hills. The
journey is difficult, but I walk for
my life.
My husband tested this year and he
is also positive. He collects his
drugs at Lacor on the 30th of every
month. He borrows a bicycle and he
rides to Lacor, but I don't know how
to ride. It takes him only three or
four hours to reach Lacor. Sometimes
he takes Alfred, but usually it is
me who carries Alfred.
gg/kr
Themes: (IRIN) HIV/AIDS (PlusNews)
[ENDS]
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