In 1990 Florence Kumunhya lost her husband to a mysterious disease. She herself had frequent fevers. "I was very shocked when they told me I had HIV. I was very sad and cried a lot because I thought it was time to die. My children were still very young and immediately I began worrying who was going to look after them."

Florence joined Iganga District AIDS Concern, an organisation that runs a clinic giving counselling and treatment. "The counsellors helped me to understand my situation and gave me advice on how to live positively with HIV/AIDS. I am not running away from people any more."

With other HIV+ members of her community, she formed the Buwolomera Development Association to encourage people to be tested. Members share experiences and raise money, as well as learning to live positively with HIV/AIDS. "By being open about ourselves, we are helping to stop the spread of AIDS. People know who we are now, so we need the rest of society to accept us."

Florence travels around teaching people about HIV/AIDS through music, dance and drama. People gather in school buildings, a house or under a tree to learn about testing, abstinence, faithfulness and condom use.

Today Florence looks after her eight children, two grandchildren and three other AIDS orphans. "I have lived positively for over 10 years. When I fall sick, I get help from people in the community. I know I will not be around for a long time, so I want others to learn and start teaching others so that when I die there are others to do the job. This is the only way our children will survive."

Florence Kumunhya, 40, lives in Iganga, Eastern Uganda.