Tseliso Soai worked as a machine operator at CGM factory in Maseru for seven years before joining ALAFA as an expert patient in 2009. Expert patients are recruited from the industry to help other workers adhere to treatment and Tseliso is the first man to take on this work.

Tseliso says he first became interested in knowing his own status in 2003 when he was selected for training at the factory. This training was to equip trainees with information about HIV and AIDS to inform other workers. At that time there were no places to go for testing. He eventually tested in 2006 at a hospital in Maseru.

"I was not so shocked to find that I was positive because I had been given information on HIV and AIDS and knew this was possible," he says. He has been on treatment since 2006 and his wife is also on treatment. He joined the ALAFA programme and support group in 2007.

"Being an expert patient allows me to encourage other men to be open about their status. I have seen that for many men this is hard. There is a lot of fear. Many men lose courage and become negative about life. As a result they engage in risky behaviourlike drinking heavily and getting involved in multiple relationships.

"Now I can spread the message among them so that they might know that there is still hope."