My name is Salome Agallo and I’m from Kenya. For 21 years, I have lived with HIV and survived cancer 3 times. I now have an ostomy.

I'm sharing my story because I wish to inspire/encourage someone who may or is loosing hope.

Visual Diary

1 July 2021

A life saver in time of despair

Hearing those words "you have cancer", is indescribable. The fear that set in almost immediately is overpowering - even for the strongest of us.

I did not let cancer define me. I decided to define it in my life. I was already battling HIV and had survived a suicide attempt by throwing myself into the Indian Ocean. Therefore, I knew this was just another hurdle. That didn’t happen immediately. It took years of self-reflection and work to change how cancer would appear in my life.

salome_agallo-diary_photo_1-2200x1220.jpg

I wish to begin telling my story using this photo that was taken at the beach in Mombasa - Kenya (July 2021)

Visual Diary

26 July 2021

Motherhood

All love begins and ends there. As a mother, you are never alone in your thoughts. In my quiet moments, I think about my two boys Jack and James who died at 2 and 7 months respectively, due to HIV‑related complications.

Thankfully, we now have Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV programmes, so HIV‑positive mothers can have HIV-negative babies. However, existing barriers include discrimination, and lack of support, confidentiality, and HPV screening. Further, antiretroviral drugs for infants are not readily available in most health facilities.

salome_agallo-diary_photo_2-2200x1220.jpg

Here I wish to share about motherhood and how I lost my two babies.

Visual Diary

26 July 2021

Never walk alone

Elephants are the largest and one of the most unique land animals. They have characteristically long trunks, large floppy ears, and wide legs. Most notably, they have thick skin. I conquered cancer 3 times, which has given me "thick skin" too. I am not afraid to face any challenges.

I also realize that I cannot walk alone, and therefore belong to patient support groups for psycho-social support and networking. However, the biggest challenge is the cost of treatment that most of us need to manage our conditions.

salome_agallo-diary_photo_3-2200x1220.jpg

I wish to continue with the story using this photo to bring out the aspect of support that I got and encourage others to do the same.

Visual Diary

26 July 2021

Not all disabilities are visible

Cancer left me with lifetime scars, which are not always visible. For example, I have to walk around with a special pouch known as a colostomy bag that collects my stool. I need at least two in a day and each costs $10 USD.

I am able to get free anti retrovirals. However, whenever I get an infection, I have to pay for the treatment separately which is costly.

I am disclosing this not because I want pity, but to remind you that healthcare can be expensive.

salome_agallo-diary_photo_4-2200x1220.jpg

I wish to continue by sharing my story of living with an Ostomy and how expensive it is.

Visual Diary

26 July 2021

I am still standing

I make my first-hand experience of living with cancer and HIV count every single day. This is important because integrated approaches to multi-morbidity prevention and management can reduce the siloed, one-size-fits all approach and ensure more robust treatment and care.

Aligned with the GIPA Principle and the WHO Framework on Integrated People-Centered Health Services, people living with HIV and NCDs should be meaningfully involved in planning, implementation and monitoring of all health interventions.

Together we can build a world where heroes like us do the right thing.

Leopard_0.jpg

I wish to end with this photo with the message: "I AM STILL STANDING" and "KEEPING HOPE ALIVE"!

NCD Diaries


For 21 years, I have lived with HIV and survived cancer three times. I now have an ostomy. I'm sharing my story because I wish to inspire/encourage someone who may be losing hope, and to urge health systems about the importance of adopting an integrated approach to disease prevention and management.

Salome Agallo, lived experience of cancer, Kenya

About NCD DIARIES

The NCD Diaries use rich and immersive multimedia approaches to share lived experiences to drive change, using a public narrative framework.

Explore NCD diaries

Visual Diary iconBenjamin Olorunfemi

Benjamin Olorunfemi

Visual Diary iconNkiruka Okoro

Nkiruka Okoro

Visual Diary iconJotham Johnson

Jotham Johnson

Podcast Diary iconSnehal Nandagawli

Snehal Nandagawli

Written Diary iconMariana Gomez

Mariana Gomez

Written Diary iconKarmila Munadi

Karmila Munadi

Written Diary iconEvelyn Santos

Evelyn Santos

Written Diary iconGrace Achodo

Grace Achodo

Written Diary iconMaryanne Njuguna

Maryanne Njuguna

Written Diary iconJoselyne Simiyu

Joselyne Simiyu

Visual Diary iconAnita Sabidi

Anita Sabidi

Written Diary iconWendy Reaser

Wendy Reaser

Written Diary iconTakwe Boniface Njecko

Takwe Boniface Njecko

Written Diary iconChitrika De Mel

Chitrika De Mel

Written Diary iconJoseph Rukelibuga

Joseph Rukelibuga

Visual Diary iconLucía Feito Allonca

Lucia Feito Allonca

Written Diary iconBrenda Chitindi

Brenda Chitindi

Visual Diary iconNeema Mohamed

Neema Mohamed

Visual Diary iconOduor Kevin Otieno

Oduor Kevin

Written Diary iconAshla Rani MP

Ashla Rani MP

Visual Diary iconKatherine Berkoh

Katherine Berkoh

Visual Diary iconMirriam Wakanyi

Mirriam Wakanyi

Visual Diary iconAmber Huett-Garcia

Amber Huett-Garcia

Visual Diary iconMazeda Begum

Begum Mazeda

Visual Diary iconLinh Nguyen Ha

Linh Nguyen Ha

Podcast Diary iconOmar Abureesh

Omar Abu Reesh

Podcast Diary iconLiz  Owino

Liz Achieng Owino

Written Diary iconJohn Gikonyo

John Gikonyo

Written Diary iconSamuel Kumwanje

Samuel Kumwanje

Written Diary iconJean Marie Blaise Migabo

Jean Marie Migabo

Written Diary iconEdith Mukantwari

Edith Mukantwari

Written Diary iconAdjo Rose Lankou

Adjo Rose Lankou

Visual Diary iconGloria Haro

Gloria Haro

Visual Diary iconRohan Arora

Rohan Arora

Visual Diary iconRobert Onyango

Robert Onyango

Podcast Diary iconVijayalakshimy Silvathorai

Vijayalakshimy Silvathorai

Podcast Diary iconAllison Ibrahim

Allison Ibrahim

Podcast Diary iconSeema Bali

Seema Bali

Visual Diary iconSalome Agallo

Salome Agallo

Visual Diary iconAma Quainoo

Ama Quainoo

Visual Diary iconBetsy Rodriguez

Betsy Rodriguez

Visual Diary iconVivian Gyasi Sarfo

Vivian Gyasi Sarfo

Visual Diary iconLion Osarenkhoe Chima-Nwogwugwu

Lion Chima-Nwogwugwu

Written Diary iconShamim Talukder

Shamim Talukder

Written Diary iconJazz Sethi

Jazz Sethi

Written Diary iconMichael Donohoe

Michael Donohoe

Written Diary iconJaime Barba

Jaime Barba

Written Diary iconStephen Ogweno

Stephen Ogweno

The current theme is

My healthcare provider's impact on my NCD journey

View the Diaries