EPISODE 15 - Long Term Survivors

"I've  survived for 20 years and and I'm going to live for another 20 years,  I'm going to live my life to the fullest" says Mandisa Mbali who lives in a modest house in the Eastern Cape.  Far from being a death sentence, people like Mandisa show its possible to beat HIV and AIDS.  She makes sure she uses a condom with her partner and expresses her determination "not spread the virus". Part of her success lies in "eating healthy" - she says as she chomps on a carrot from her  backyard garden. While people like Mandisa show others the way, it was hard for them back in 1989 when she tested positive. All she knew was that HIV was incurable and she didn't expect to live. As a result she dropped out of school. She also joined the TA and this gave her confidence. Mandisa got access to ARV in 2000 through a clinical trial because back then government was dragging its heels on providing treatment. When she got better Mandisa decided to disclose her status in the community. Again she had to pay a price for stigma and denial. Her spaza shop collapsed because people wouldn't come and buy from her - even soap or paraffin. But things have improved once there were enough people living with HIV in the area to start a support group.  Some of these people also disclosed. Now the community is buying from her again. Mandia's story shows that with courage, perseverance and education, stigma and discrimination around HIV can be beaten.

Martin Ndlovu is a handsome self confident man with twinkling eyes and an easy smile. It's easy to like him.  He confesses to having lived the playboy life, drinking and womaninsing, eventually testing HIV positive in 1989. After he tested positive Martin went straight home and told the family. Perhaps his early openness is part of the secret because being open reduces stress. At first he relied on traditional healing. Then in 2003 he got TB.  Martin tells us "I got  TB medication and I took them religiously and I found I was getting got better". This is the second secret to his success. He understood, as he says, that strong medicine needs to be taken "religiously"- and this is the second key to his success. His other secret is his amazing and understanding partner Fikile who has supported him. Martin takes us to meet Dr Docrat  - his doctor.  Martin started ARVs and is doing well. Dr Docrat had time for him, he listened, helped and advised. "I'm alive today because of him" says Martin.

Phumla Dladla lives in Khayelitsha. 11 years ago, back in 1998, Phumla found out her daughter was HIV positive. Back then she didn't know what HIV was. Her CD4 count was 9.  She started on ARVs in 2001. For the first two years she was did well on Nevirapine, 3TC and AZT. Then in 2004 she developed a serious side effect - Lactic Acidosis. She had to stop her regimen and give her body a chance to recover from the side effect. Then doctors changed her to a second line regimen - Kaletra, tenofovir and 3TC. She has been using this ever since and has been in good health. Phumla's daughter is still doing well and she has also had another child - a boy who is now at school. Because of the ARVs she is taking her second child was protected against HIV when he was being borne. At six weeks he tested negative and is still negative. "Don't mix ARVs with drinking, smoking and sleeping around Phumla advises" "Condomise, take your treatment and eat healthy" is Phumla's recipe for beating HIV. And now Jacob Zuma has announced that many more women will have access to triple therapy for preventing mother to child transmission as they will be eligible to start treatment from CD4 350 instead of 200 as it used to be. Every pregnant mother must sure she is tested as early as possible in her pregnancy.