The courage to live of Yousouf, 13 years old, born with HIV

Yousouf, born with HIV, leads a daily battle. Despite his illness, he finds comfort in his father, Mustafa, who fights to give him a better life. Together, they face the challenges, financial difficulties and stigma associated with the disease.

He is 13 years old. The age of dreams, of carelessness, where the future is written slowly. And it is so that Yousouf* can have this future that his father, Mustafa*, 45 years old, is fighting. Against all odds. Against the trials of life. Against illness.

Born with HIV, Yousouf leads a life very different from other children his age. Every day, the disease imposes its rhythm. Despite his admirable courage, he sometimes falters. “I don’t know what to do with my illness,” he murmurs, his voice trembling.

He finds comfort in the arms of his father, his refuge, his protector, his confidant and the maternal figure that he no longer has. Yousouf lost his mother to HIV at the age of 2 and a half. To this absence was added that of his father, who was estranged from him for many years. It’s been about a year, in December 2023, that father and son finally found each other.

At Le Dimanche/L’Hebdo, Mustafa recounts with modesty and sincerity, without making excuses, a past marked by the pain of the loss of a loved one, the demons of addiction, the infernal spiral of loss of control, precariousness. At the time, the Child Development Unit had no choice but to remove custody of Yousouf.

Since turning his back on his old demons, the forty-year-old has continued to fight to rebuild his life, regain custody of his son and offer him a life of dignity. The reunion was to symbolize, for this little broken family, a new beginning, a rebirth.

He did not choose this life, but he lives it with extraordinary courage”

Today, in their modest home, Mustafa watches over his only son every day, his reason for living. He works as an electrician to support Yousouf. But his income is modest and his own health problems, notably hepatitis C and chronic pain, complicate his daily life. “Mo garson donn mwa lafors. So what matters, what sacrifices you make,” he confides, with tears in his eyes.

Mustafa does not hide his admiration for the resilience shown by Yousouf, who is currently in Grade 8. His daily life is punctuated by classes, but also by strict medical obligations. Every day, he must swallow four tablets. These medications are essential to control the illness that has accompanied him since birth, but they are also a source of suffering. “Mo tired bwar sa bann konprime-la. “Li gro, li eklat mo lestoma”, confides Yousouf.

This fatigue is felt in his gestures and his gaze. Yousouf must also undergo monthly medical exams to check that his CD4 levels, a key indicator of immunity, remain within normal thresholds. These obligations, although vital, weigh heavily on his fragile shoulders. Yousouf remains silent in front of his classmates. He fears the stigma and judgments that such a revelation could cause.

“Li kouraze, plis ki mo ti pou kapav,” said Moustafa. In addition to ensuring that Yousouf follows his treatment scrupulously, he is also fighting to receive a disability pension, assistance that once allowed them to cover certain essential needs.

According to an old pension card, Yousouf received Rs 9,000 per month between June 2020 and June 2021. However, since Mustafa regained custody of his son, this pension has been suspended. Despite several requests, including one submitted on May 22, 2024, he received no response from the authorities concerned. “Mo pe rod zis sa ki my boy deserves. We can live,” explains Mustafa.

The needs are numerous: clothes, food, school supplies, powdered milk… So many expenses that Mustafa struggles to cover alone. This father tells their story with courage, without seeking pity. He only hopes to be able to offer a better future to Yousouf, a future where he will not be reduced to his status as an HIV carrier: “Li pann swazir sa lavi-la, me li viv li avek enn kouraz extraordiner. Mo rol se offerir li meyer sanz. »

*Identified first names