JARED: "Some people are hard to convince"

“I had two wives, so went with one of them to learn our status, and both of us tested positive. Later on, I came to pick up the second wife and we went and she too was positive.

“We were eventually put on anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) and they counselled us. The elder wife and I accepted, but the younger one did not accept and refused to take the drugs.

“Magdaline, the older one, and I are on ARV drugs and doing fine. We are going about our duties as usual and we decided we would share with our children openly.

“The younger one who refused to accept her status went away. She just refused to accept it.”

Jared is a member of the men-only support group in Mathare in Nairobi, and says it has been a big help.

“Through the support group, I have got a dairy goat and do milking,” he says. “When we meet, we have saving and loaning, and I am able to get a loan and do what I want to do. I have had a lot of support from the others in the group. We come here and sing and are a team and we dance and we are like a family. I have got a lot of support from colleagues, me and the wife.

“I have managed to convince a few others to find out their status – about five. But some people are difficult to convince.”

In September, Gavin Aitchison spent five days with Christian Aid in Kenya, witnessing its work with HIV victims and meeting those on the front-line in the fight against the virus. Here, he meets the young orphans and victims being given a second-chance in life.

Gavin Aitchison travelled to Kenya with Christian Aid, to witness the charity's work with HIV victims and to meet those on the front-line in the fight against the virus.

• Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal this year is focused on HIV, marking the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the virus.

If you would like to donate to Christian Aid’s Christmas Appeal, or would like to find out more about its work on health and HIV, visit christianaid.org.uk/christmas or call 0845 7000 300.