– A teenager who moved First Lady Margaret Kenyatta to tears with her gripping poem about living with HIV/AIDS has died.
– On Thursday, June 9, she recited an emotional poem about HIV/Aids that moved people to tears in Busia County.
– Achieng’s condition worsened on Monday night, June 13, when she started vomiting.
– She was rushed to hospital again but succumbed to the deadly scourge on Tuesday morning, June 14.
Francisca Achieng’, a teenager who moved First Lady Margaret Kenyatta to tears with her gripping poem about living with HIV/AIDS has died.
On June 9, during Zero Campaign tour by First Lady in Busia to deliver a mobile clinic, Achieng’, 18, Achieng did an emotional poem that moved the crowd.
She succumbed to the virus one week after her performance when Mrs Kenyatta visited Busia County to deliver a mobile clinic.
Francisca Achieng’ recites the poem during Zero Campaign tour by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta to deliver a mobile clinic in Busia County, on June 9.
“My grave is your grave, my burial is also yours. Live in my blood comfortably but let’s respect one another,” she recited in a poem that moved the crowd.
Unfortunately Achieng’ has rested before performing at State House as promised by the First Lady.
Mary Makokha, the director of a local NGO where Achieng’ worked for two years, said her death was premature and big blow.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta is received by Governor Sospeter Ojaamong on arrival in Busia County.
“We are shocked by her demise. We had a lot in store for her. When she joined this organisation, she had been greatly stigmatised. We counselled her and she began treatment. She became strong, confident and this was seen on Thursday when she entertained the First Lady,” said Makokha.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta at Our Lady of Grace and Compassion Primary School-Mundika, Busia County on June 9.
“We are shocked by her demise. We had a lot in store for her. When she joined this organisation, she had been greatly stigmatised. We counselled her and she began treatment. She became strong, confident and this was seen on Thursday when she entertained the First Lady,” said Makokha.
First lady in hospital
The First Lady eulogised Achieng’, saying her message of hope moved her.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s wife, Judy Ojaamong’, hailed Achieng’ for her efforts in highlighting about the dangers of the disease.
On June 15, Mrs Kenyatta said that HIV remains the biggest killer of adolescents despite the many interventions since its discovery in the 1980s. “We need to talk about sex, about HIV, about drugs, and a whole host of issues,” she said.
The First Lady said the war against the disease will not be over until the country realises zero new infections, zero HIV related deaths and zero stigma against HIV-positive people.
-tuko.co.ke
