ARV treatment gives life

ALTHOUGH anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) are not a cure for HIV, the treatment has many positive benefits and help keep infected persons healthy for many years.

Speaking openly to the Zululand Observer about living with HIV and being on ARVs, television personality, mother and uThungulu Aids activist Simphiwe Gumede (33) spoke about the importance of treatment and how easily it is now accessible to patients.

Six years after she started with her treatment, Gumede said it not only saved her, but also gave her a second chance at life.

‘Anti-retroviral drugs slow down HIV multiplication. This in turn slows down the loss of CD4 T-cells that the virus destroys, and thus slows down further damage to the immune system, even allowing the immune system to recover to some extent,’ she said.

‘Controlling HIV infections and limiting damage to the immune system result in weight gain and improvement in general health, fewer opportunistic infections, less need for other medications and less time in hospital.’

Gumede’s goal is to spread the news about the benefits of ARV treatment and change people’s mindsets.

‘People were surprised when I fell pregnant without infecting the father and the baby. The treatment not only allows you to fulfill your dreams, but it lessens chances of infecting others. I had a healthy baby because of it,’ she said.

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Easy access

Even though many understand the benefits of ARV treatment, Gumede said many of those infected are still embarrassed to acquire them from clinics and other facilities.

She applauded the government for creating a process whereby patients can obtain medication at pharmacies without being exposed to long queues and public clinics.

‘We now get them at our own time and places of our choice. There is no need for people to suffer and neglect their health as it is now easy to access ARVs without being labelled.

‘They are part of chronic medication, just like diabetes, asthma and other chronic, but manageable illnesses. When you are at a pharmacy, no one reads your package, no one knows what you are there for.

‘It’s just one pill a day which gives you life, to enjoy with your children and loved ones for a very long time.’