Abudo Nicuacua was diagnosed with HIV in 2006. Today, Abudo is an antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence role model, but this was not always the case. Although he began ART shortly after his diagnosis, he was not convinced that the medications would improve his health. He quickly abandoned care and stopped taking his ART soon after enrollment. 

Then, in January 2006, Abudo attended a community talk by Friends in Global Health (FGH) trained Male Champion Juma Mantabajado. This talk helped transform Abudo into becoming a strong advocate and promoter for ART adherence, as he deeply understood the impact that his words could have on other patients. Since that experience, Abudo has become an FGH-trained Peer Educator. 

Part of Abudo’s work as a Peer Educator is to encourage the creation of Community Adherence Support Groups (CASGs). CASGs are groups composed of up to six HIV+ people on ART who share the rotating responsibility of medication pick-up. 

Abudo's journey from a patient who had abandoned treatment, to being inspired by a community talk, to then delivering talks himself and helping other HIV+ people to establish groups that will prevent them from abandoning treatment shows the positive cascading effect of FGH's community work.

On World AIDS Day, The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, published a blog post by Kate Clouse, Ph.D., MPH, VIGH core faculty. She calls for improved HIV data systems to provide quality care and ensure lifelong engagement in HIV care.