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Natasha
Natasha
Mhone
I am a living miracle.
@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik
Natasha
Mhone
I am a living miracle.
Natasha's Story
For me it was the opportunity to apply to join Gen A that inspired me to stand in my truth and speak about HIV for the very first time outside of my immediate family.
I was diagnosed as HIV positive aged 15, having been born with the disease. My mother passed away from the disease when I was nine, but it was only as a teenager that I found out the true circumstances of my mother’s death. My family, through the love they have for me, advised me to keep my status a secret from all but immediate family. Whilst they themselves did not see me any differently, they knew that the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding HIV in our community would have a devastating effect on my life.
I am a living miracle.
The day of my diagnosis changed everything for me. I immediately felt different and isolated, having little knowledge of what HIV was and how it would affect me. For 13 years, I kept this secret, fearing peoples’ reactions and believing – like my family – that I would not be accepted. Until now.
Now, with my family’s continued support, I am ready to tell my story.
I work for an NGO that focuses on research and development for HIV prevention and care. I hope that by sharing my experiences, HIV prevention and treatment gets the attention it deserves within SDG 3 – and that people in my position feel less alone. My next step is to use my passion for storytelling and commitment to working in healthcare to forge a career in Healthcare Communications, believing in the transformational power of stories.
I see myself as a living miracle, and I hope that my story helps others living with HIV understand that they are, too.
@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik
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@ Gates Archive/Jonathan Torgovnik
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