Booker Webi, 58, learned he had HIV in 2006, after being sick for some time. His wife told him not to be tested but he prayed, talked to his sisters and was persuaded to go to hospital.

“The doctor pronounced ‘you are HIV positive’ and I tell you, I was really shocked at that moment,” says Booker. “It was not an easy message. I did not take it lightly. I was worried and I did not know where to start – I had small children.”

Booker, who has six children aged 11 or under, is a member of the men-only support group in the Muthare slum in Nairobi, run by the National Council of Churches of Kenya, and he says the group and his anti-retroviral drugs have helped enormously.

“When I was first infected, I did not know where to start,” he says. “It has been a long journey but slowly by slowly, I have met people.

“Now I feel brave. I can talk about HIV now, rather than as I was in 2006. In those days, I did not talk, but now I feel much braver.

“Stigma was one of the problems I had at that time. I really wanted to hide myself. I did not want people to know my status. Even when my sisters knew, I was really worried about how they would take it. I give credit firstly to my sisters and I give credit to NCCK for the support they have given me.

“Joining a group like this is very important. Being alone, you have thoughts. You start thinking of death; that maybe you are the only one in the world. But when you come to such a group, there are others with the problems and you can share experiences and get strength. I would really encourage people to join the group.”

He says he could chat anywhere now, but says others prefer men-only setting, as it is easier to talk.

“Men are very difficult, and are not coming out,” he says. “Women can tell other women and share. Men have a problem which needs to be sorted out.”

Booker says he struggled to tell his wife, but persuaded her to travel to Nairobi from their home near Kisumu, to be tested.

“Somehow I had to tell her,” he says. “I told her, ‘I have a problem – I have the virus’.

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.

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• 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.