Coach Stories
Vignettes, anecdotes and quotes on Coach experience.
Coach 2: Story
In the early 2000s, he went to get tested for HIV after a conversation with a family member about relationships and the importance of knowing their status. Unfortunately, the result was positive, and he struggled to process the news initially. He left the clinic without receiving counseling and retreated into himself. Later, he and his family member discovered they had both tested positive, but they didn’t talk about it at the time.
After a health scare at work due to exposure to hazardous conditions, he left that job and focused on his health. He started treatment shortly after and has been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for many years. Reflecting on his journey, he notes how training gave him the courage and strength to help others and realize that the things he was hiding about himself were already known by others.
As a coach, his role is to help others know their status and support them in staying on their medication if they are positive, or on preventive treatment if they are negative and sexually active. He primarily connects with people through direct communication, setting up appointments and offering support. He finds success in one-on-one settings, where he helps identify men who need support and connects them with the appropriate services.
He works with organizations to provide testing in private and safe environments, preferring to conduct tests in homes rather than public spaces. When someone tests positive, he ensures they receive the necessary care and support, including counseling. He often encounters people struggling with medication adherence, and he provides guidance to help them stay on track with their treatment.
