Did you know that this year is the 10th anniversary of PEPFAR in South Africa? Through this program, the United States has partnered with South Africa to create distribution chains for ARVs, provide free testing (as well as counseling), and has moved us one step closer to an AIDS free generation. For the last 10 years this program has received a large portion of funds from the United States, however, there has been so much success that we are now proud to see this program transition from a U.S. led initiative, to a South African one! A round of applause goes to the field partners who are hard at work making sure that people like Mary (below) continue to receive their treatments!!! My name is Mary Chauke, I am 35 years old. I have been living with HIV since 2002. When I discovered my HIV status I was dating a local Police officer and together we wanted to have children. We decided to go to the clinic to seek professional help. The Health care professional at the facility advised us to test for HIV before we try for a baby. We both agreed to test, when the result returned it was found that I was HIV positive and my partner was negative. I was shattered and thought it was the end of the world. The health care professional advised my partner to test again after three months, but when we returned home, he left me with my young son. I told myself that “this” is my life and not his, so I went back to the hospital to seek ART. On arrival at the hospital I found many familiar faces which scared me and I left without my medication. Arriving home I looked at my son and I told myself that if I don’t live for myself, I have to live for him. I decided to go back to the hospital. When I started treatment my CD4 count was 135, my will power to live for my son kept me motivated to stay on treatment. While on treatment people talked about ARVs making people go mad, I told myself that if that be true I will be mad, but with my son. Today I am very proud of myself and my friend who is here with me today. She was very ill, but did not tell me what was wrong. I found the courage to advise her to go to the clinic and test. She tested positive and was initiated on ART. Today she is well and she is double my size. I am living healthy and currently I have four children and I am an ambassador for HIV. My advice to young people is to protect themself from pregnancy and HIV.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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