”I was not going to vote for this government if my child died of Aids.”
This was the vow that Nombuyiselo Maphongwane’s mother made after witnessing her daughter suffering from full-blown Aids.
Six weeks ago Maphongwane had her will ready. But, having taken anti-retroviral drugs for six weeks, she rediscovered her determination to beat the disease. Her bright eyes and fuller figure are a far cry from the grey-skinned, frail 37-year-old woman waiting for death in April when the Mail & Guardian first spoke to her. ”It is a miracle how I received these drugs.”
Her story was published on April 17, the first anniversary of the Cabinet’s pledge to provide universal access to anti-retroviral treatment. As a result of the article, Maphongwane received a life-time sponsor for her treatment.
In April her CD4 count was six. The CD4 count determines the strength of the immune system. In June it dropped to four. She did not expect to survive much longer.
Six weeks after treatment, her CD4 count has risen to 51. Her weight has increased by about 10kg. Her viral load (used to describe the amount of HIV in the blood) was 350 000 in July and dropped to 281 000 after treatment.
Her hair has started growing and her skin has lightened. ”I get so excited because I can eat a whole tennis biscuit now,” she said.
The miracle began with an article in American magazine FastCompany, about Anglo American’s HIV/Aids project. Brian Brink, senior vice-president for health, was quoted in the article about the challenges facing South Africans with full-blown Aids who are trying to get treatment.
”A lot of people read the article,” said Brink. ”One person, Alejandro Yarto, was so taken by it that he said he and his family would sponsor treatment for someone in South Africa. They would like to make this commitment of about $1 200 a year — and that they would be able to do this indefinitely.”
Yarto said: ”We often wonder how we can make an impact on people’s lives. What better way to do so than by providing the medicine that makes the difference between life and death?”
Brink committed Anglo American to sponsoring the treatment and monitoring of the patient if the drugs were provided. Searching for a candidate, Brink remembered reading about Maphongwane in the M&G.
Maphongwane did not hesitate when she heard about the offer. ”My family and I were very happy.” They had scraped together the money to buy one bottle of Combivir, which she finished in April. ”I didn’t know where we were going to get the money for more treatment, but we prayed to God.”
She began treatment on July 14 at Anglo American’s clinic. Sister Mamojaki Suping, in charge of the Johannesburg clinic, spoke to her about the possible side effects because of her weakened immune system.
”We were all worried,” said Suping. ”She was very ill … and I did not think she would survive to even go on the treatment.”
Looking at Maphongwane this week it is difficult to remember the frail woman she used to be. Every day she sets her cellphone alarm to remind her to take the tablets, exactly 12 hours apart. ”This virus is very clever and if I miss a day of the tablets it learns how to fight the drugs.”
She has to eat healthy food or she suffers from diarrhoea. ”Minister [of Health Manto] Tshabalala-Msimang is right about the nutrition. I don’t want to give her credit, but you need healthy food when you are on treatment.”
She welcomed the government’s announcement that it would provide the drugs. She said the greatest challenge facing the roll-out of anti-retroviral drugs is around stigma: some people will not get the drugs because they do not want to disclose their HIV status.
”People [with HIV/Aids] don’t want to be identified in Soweto.” She said the roll-out will not happen overnight. ”The technical team has to set out how these drugs will be dispensed. The health fraternity, activists and communities must work together. We need doctors to monitor the treatment.”
But Maphongwane warned that the government should not deliberate too long. ”Look at the number of young people who have already died of Aids.”
Brink said of Maphongwane: ”She has been so brave. She has become a leader in showing people that they do not have to fear the treatment.”