TERAPROOF:User:desbreenDate:09/11/2010Time:09:55:08Edition:10/11/2010Wedwedecho101110Page:13 Zone:EE
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(YHQLQJ (FKR Wednesday, November 10, 2010
‘People were shocked when I told them I was HIV positive’
Mwiche Nanbela, Pharmacy Assistant at Our Lady's Hospice in Kalingalinga, with
some of the ARVs commonly used by HIV positive patients.
tinue to provide ARVs for everyone,
but we need the drug companies to
bring down their prices.
“First line treatment is cheap, but
second line treatment, which is re-
quired when patients develop resist-
ance to drugs, is very expensive,” she
said.
“It is imprudent to give everything
for free. I think it would have been
better to pay a little and stretch it the
funding available.
“If the free treatment scheme is with-
drawn, our role will be much more
about end of life care,” she added.
Unlike in some countries, HIV in
Zambia does not primarily affect the
most underprivileged; infection rates
are very high among wealthier people
and the better educated.
Sr Kay said: “You meet professional
people who should know better about
being promiscuous and not taking pre-
cautions.
“People think others will get infec-
ted, but not them.”
Although the HIV epidemic has
spread throughout Zambia and to all
parts of society, some groups are espe-
cially vulnerable — most notably
young women and girls.
HIV prevalence among young women
is nearly four times than that of men in
NEWS 13
WITH her bright eyes, shining smile
and flowing curls, Lucy Njuka does
not look HIV positive.
Then again, what does a HIV positive
person look like?
In Zambia today, many look healthy,
happy and are leading normal lives.
Lucy Njuka is a second-year law
student at the University of Zambia
and was diagnosed as HIV positive in
February 2008.
Her mother died when she was six
years old, her father when she was
11, she now lives with her four
siblings in Lusaka.
Lucy said: “I had a problem with
anaemia and I got a cough.
“I found I couldn’t concentrate so I
got tested.
“I’ve been on ARV since July 2008
and it has really helped. I had to
withdraw from my studies for a while
so that my body could get used to it. I
had very bad side effects at the
beginning.”
Lucy was on two types of drugs at
the time as she was also being
treated for TB.
She is now back at her studies,
having picked up from where she left
off.
Discussing how others her age
perceive HIV, she said people are
more informed about HIV, but said a
fear still exists.
Lucy said: “There is a fear, but
people think that if they’re not Lucy Njuka is a second-year law student at the University of Zambia and
positive, that nothing can happen to was diagnosed as HIV positive in February 2008. Picture: Amy Colley
them.
“People were shocked at first when I siblings brought to the hospice, you think the companies will release
told them I was HIV positive, but they where she was treated for free and it?
are fine now.” released four days later. “ARV has brought in a lot of money
Recalling her reaction when she was With widespread fear in Zambia that for the drugs companies. The more
first diagnosed, she said: “Your first the free ARV scheme will be people that are infected, the more
reaction is that you can’t get married withdrawn, Lucy said that she would money they will make.
or have a boyfriend, but when I like to stock up on the drugs for a “If a cure is found, there won’t be any
researched HIV, it became easier to number of years. funds for ARVs and they will
understand. “There is a fear out there and if it concentrate on selling the cure.”
“My situation has taught my siblings, happens, people who are tested However, despite her fears, Lucy is
but I’m not the first in the family to be positive will just be waiting to die. thinking about focusing on the future
HIV positive.” “I’d like to stock up on a year’s and is thinking about becoming a
When I met her, she was a patient of supply, but the maximum you can get human rights lawyer and plans to
Our Lady’s Hospice in Kalingalinga is three months. lead a long, normal life like her
after becoming ill. Her worried “It is scary.. If they find a cure — do friends.
Picture: Amy Colley
the same age category.
A number of factors, including
gender inequality, contribute to the
higher prevalence among women.
Women are often taught never to
refuse their husbands sex or to insist
their partner uses a condom.
In addition, young women in Zambia
typically become sexually active earli-
er than men, with a partner who will
be on average five years her senior,
who may already have had a number of
sexual partners
At the Bauleni Community School in
Lusaka, St Mary Cathie MacInnes said
teenage pregnancy is quite common
among students.
“Last week, we found out that two
sisters were expecting. One aged 16 is
in grade eight and is four months preg-
nant. She got married last month.
“Her sister, aged 17, is in grade nine
and is also pregnant. She is due to get
married in December.”
Children have also been much af-
fected by the Aids epidemic in Zambia
and more than 95,000 children are HIV
positive.
This is an issue that will be ad-
dressed in the fourth installment of our
series tomorrow.
● Helen Walsh travelled to Zambia
with misean cara.