NEW: “HIV failed to get the better of me”

Tanyaradzwa Rusike

BEFORE many could understand HIV/AIDS, especially at a time medication for the disease was not widely available, people diagnosed with the disease considered it a death sentence.

However, the availability of antiretroviral medication (ARVs) and a better understanding of the disease has helped people living with HIV/AIDS manage their condition better.

This is the case with Manyara Zvikaramba, a 44-year-old woman from Chipinge, who took a decision to maintain a positive outlook on life after her diagnosis in 2009.

Having married a loving husband in 1996, Zvikaramba was focused on working hard to ensure she raises her family well until she started experiencing bouts of intermittent illnesses.

She, however, was not worried, as she had a long history of bad health from her childhood.

“I grew up in the rural area, where I did both my primary and secondary education. As I was growing up, I kept getting hospitalised from time to time,” she said.

“I got married to my loving husband at the age of 21, and gave birth to a son in 1997,” she told The Sunday Mail Online.

Their marriage was blissful until 2009 when her health took a sudden turn for the worst.

“I tested positive at the age of 32 after I was bed-ridden for a long time. Initially, when I was tested, my results were negative.

“After some time, my health started deteriorating, but I did not want to be tested for a second time because of fear of being stigmatised,” said Zvikaramba.

After finding it increasingly difficult to recover, she got tested for the second time.

“I know most people would cry when they discover that they are positive, but for me it was different.

“I was so happy that finally I had an answer to why my health was deteriorating. I was tired of being sick without knowing the exact cause,” she explained.

After making peace with her new reality, she gathered courage to pick up the pieces and proceed with her life.

“I told my husband about the results, and I am glad he accepted me as I was, although he did not want to get tested.

“I remember his words, saying: ‘You are the one not feeling well, so get tested, but, as for me, I will only get tested when I am not well’.”

After going through counselling sessions, Zvikaramba adopted a strict regime of taking her medication and practicing safe sex.

Working with healthcare providers, she tried different pill types and regiments until she found the most appropriate for her body.

“I was first given a two weeks’ starter pack and I did not react. I was then changed to Zidolam after my doctor noticed some remarkable change. However, the drug did not go well with my system as I started to have heart enlargement,” she said.

Fortunately, the anomaly was noticed quickly.

“I was later given Tinolam A, and now I am on Tinolam B. My viral load is zero, which means I am just the same as a normal person, although I am living with HIV,” she said.

When a person’s viral load is low to the point of zero, they are part of what medical practitioners described as U=U, which means those who have a suppressed viral load cannot transmit HIV, and can even test negative on some tests.

In the 1990s, HIV/AIDS infection in Zimbabwe was seen as a ticket to death, because very little was known about the virus and there was no cure.

A cure remains elusive to date.

At the time, ARVs, which are known to manage the condition, were still being tested for the market by scientists.

Zvikaramba, who has three children, said knowing your status is the best treatment.

“Knowing your status is the beginning of another life. I had to find ways of how I was going to have kids without transmitting the disease to them.

“I consulted my doctor, and she told us how we were going to do the whole process without infecting the baby. I am happy we managed, and now we have three boys,” she said with a smile.

Zvikaramba said 8pm is now her family’s favourite time, as her sons remind her to take her medication daily without fail.

“My husband is also positive, but he only opened up on his status this year. My children also know our status and we live as a happy family.

“Every day at 8pm my sons always remind us that it is time to take our medication. They also make sure we eat a balanced diet food as prescribed by the doctors,” added Zvikaramba.

The condition and her attitude after diagnosis has made her a community leader who helps others facing the same circumstances as her.

“Right now, I am a field officer of LESO, a support group that equip people living with HIV with different skills.

“We do palliative care home visits and we refer some patients to other organisations who can help them financially. We also do door-to-door visits seeing how people are living,” she said.

According to the National Aids Council (NAC), HIV prevalence in Zimbabwe has gone down in all the provinces for the past four years due to good programming and adherence, amid reports that the country records approximately 31 000 new cases annually.