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Free AIDS prophylaxis protects unborn babies
from HIV |
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This is the
story of hope for future generation being born
free from HIV virus. It is a story about gender
and HIV that depicts women vulnerability to HIV
especially married women particularly those that
depend on men economically. It is a story of a
heroine whom despite of her vulnerable
situation, un-educated and unemployed, she was
brave enough to refuse re-infection through
un-protected sex in her marriage and rather
sacrifice her high risk relationship for her
safety and her baby.
She is already struggling with poverty and no
one knows how long she will hold to her decision
before she became vulnerable again for survival.
Women like Monamoli are not many, some forfeit
themselves to risk behavior and unprotected sex
for survival and security and end-up die at
early stage and live their children as orphans.
Read the whole story ….
Mamonamoli* 27 years is married to 28 years old
husband who works in the South African mines and
only visit her on monthly basis. She dropped
from school at form three after she failed three
times her Junior Certificates examinations. When
things did not worked for her education,
Mamonamoli gave-up on education and waited for
Mr. Right to be a home maker as it is common
among rural African socialization.
Finally her dream came true when she met the
love of her life and decided to tie knot with
him till death will do them apart. She did not
know much about the guy as he was always working
in South Africa. “My sisters and neighbours
warned me that my husband to be was a player but
I thought grown-up people sometimes change and I
went on with our marriage plans,” she narrated.
At this time, Mamonamoli never knew her real
husband until when she was married to him. “When
I was already married, I then realized that the
guy I married had Multiple and Concurrent sexual
Partners (MCP). I was so disappointed and felt
sorry for myself because my friends and family
told me but never listen to them.”
It was painful for Mamonamoli to know that the
man she is married-to is sleeping around with
other ladies. By the way it was too late for
her, because by the time she discovered his
behavior of Multiple and Concurrent sexual
Partners (MCP), she was already pregnant.
Mamonamoli visited antenatal clinic and the
health workers who provide health talk to
expectant mothers usually encourage expecting
mothers to take Voluntary Counseling and Testing
(VCT) with their husbands (PMTCT Plus) in order
to know their status and save their unborn
babies from the deadly HIV virus. Just like any
faithful wife, she also thought that her husband
was faithful to her. Therefore she tested
without fear not doubting about her husband
faithfulness when he is alone at work in South
Africa.
“I was shocked to be told that I am HIV positive
because I was protecting myself for my husband
and I thought he is doing the same but I was
wrong,” she burst in tears dropping on her
chicks while holding her 10 months bouncing baby
boy Bohle* recalling the disbelief when she was
told she is positive.
Your browser may not support display of this
image.The painful thing to Mamonamoli is that
she later realized that her beloved husband knew
his HIV status long before they got married and
even the husband’s family knew their son’s
status but no one ever told her about this
situation when she got married to him.
When she told her husband about her status he
said even himself is living with HIV for
sometime but he is still healthy and that he has
never been sick therefore she should also not
worry about it because she will be fine.
Your browser may not support display of this
image.However, Mamonamoli never listen to this
myths but she stressed that if he wants sex with
her from now on, he should use condom. “My
initiation for safe sex was the beginning of
gender based violence and abuse from my beloved
husband. He refused to use condom and I refused
to have sex with him. He left home and slept
outside and came in the morning telling me that
if I want condom he would rather sleep outside
where he does not use it. Sometimes he wants to
force himself on me when he is drunk and I will
fight to the last end and he never succeeded to
rape me,” She said confidently displaying her
confidence and anger.
The husband family later talk to Mamonamoli and
advised her to leave him and go to her
biological parents. “I found it was better to
leave my husband for the sake of my safety
because I want to live for my baby not to die
and leave my child as orphan. What I want from
him is child-support because the father of my
child works in the South African mines but he
does not support the baby saying he will support
us when we go back to him,” she cried
remembering how she suffered with the baby
alone.
Mamonamoli therefore left and went to her mother
and father. When she was in labour, Mamonamoli
reminded the health worker about her status and
she was given nevirapine (prophylaxis) before
and after birth together with her new born baby.
“Me and my baby are now healthy. I don’t have
any opportunistic infection and my baby is HIV
negative. In my last check up I was told my CD4
count is 573 which means I don’t need any AIDS
treatment right now,” she said.
Mamonamoli is an Anglican believer, but she said
she never disclose her status to any friend,
neighbor or her pastor except to her close
family, her mother, father, sister, husband and
in-laws only in fear of stigma and
discrimination. After a year, she is still in
shock and every time she talks about her status
she cries bitterly.
“When my baby was born I could not afford
supplementary milk therefore my mother opted for
exclusive breast feeding,” she said.
During antenatal clinic she was told that after
six months she has to stop exclusive
breastfeeding and use supplementary feeding to
protect her baby from contaminating HIV from
breast milk. “I was always wondering how would I
afford to buy supplementary milk while I am
unemployed and separated from my husband who is
a breadwinner for me and my baby.”
With parents’ and health workers’ support, it
was easy for Mamonamoli to stop breastfed her
baby after exclusive breastfeeding and at that
time her baby was big enough to take soft
porridge and other soft food.
Thanks to the government and partners such as
Global Fund and others for ensuring that
pregnant mothers who know their HIV status
receive free prophylaxis to protect their unborn
babies from the deadly virus.
*Mamonamoli not her real name. Used to
protect her identity |
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