Juba-South Sudan-Suzie Enoka is professional nurse based at Juba Teaching hospital, trained in the early 90’s at the then Juba Nursing School, now Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery, she trades at the nation’s only referral hospital’s ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy) clinic. Mondays are a typical busy /hectic day on her schedule as she serves clients who visit the ART clinic to replenish their stock of ARVs.
Then their world started crumbling.
I lost my husband in 2004, that time I worked in Yei Civil hospital in the pediatric ward, doing the daily routine of blood transfusion among other tasks. When I lost my husband in unclear circumstances, I became suspicious and myself instincts told he passed on due to HIV/AIDS, the same year my six-year-old son passed on, I was devastated but strong” Enoka recounts
Enoka said when she got back to work her then supervisor, told her from the signs she presented, she could be carrying the virus that causes HIV if tested would help her to know her status.
“I had become so frail, I lost weight, as I could not eat following loss of appetite, but my colleague’s male and females were all supportive to, and that time a mere mention of the word AIDS was like taboo” she revealed.
Following all the nightmare her family decided to rush her to hospital from where she was tested, and the results came out positive.
“I could barely support myself when I was taken to hospital, I was frail, but I got enrolled on ARVs, shortly after I regained my strength, threw down the walking stick and supported myself with my movements, although weak” she narrates. Enoka said following her return from treatment, her supervisor welcomed her back to work and was verry supportive.
Tragically, Enoka’s story is not all that uncommon anymore. Throughout South Sudan and beyond, there are many people living with HIV/AIDS but continue to live a productive lifestyle. Enoka has worked diligently and effectively behind the scenes for AIDS education through counselling clients who go the clinic take their medicines, she has gone public about her status and says the family has since accepted her.
“On daily basis, I interface with people of all walks of life, others come here when they have given up with life, put I put hope in them, telling them that I have lived on with the virus, and I still continue to be productive, others come here basically with their will, I tell them HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence” she counsels
For four years, her and team of others at the facility are creating a safe and positive living among those living with the virus to the public eye, saying they occasionally gather the young positives and encourage them to network among themselves. She adds that the disease is more prevalent among the young aged between 18-20 above, attributing it to reckless lifestyle the youth are leading.
Suzie continues to support her clients by offering to deliver their supplies of ARVs through the Community Based Distribution, a network of community distributors who deliver the drugs to the last mile.
Suzie is a member of the South Sudan Network of Midwives and Nurses Association that was established by UNFPA with support by Global Affairs Canada and has also benefited from the Canadian Association of Midwives.
