Duration: 4min 38sec

Transcript

KHOPOTSO: It was in November of last year as Nonhlanhla Kubheka prepared to attend   an AIDS conference in Uganda that she noticed the tell-tale signs. A CD 4 count reading was important in the list of medical fitness tests she had to do. It registered 300 Helper

T-cells. Low, but still considered healthy. Now Nonhlanhla is concerned that, seven months later, her CD 4 count might have dropped lower – even to the point below the 200 mark threshold, which qualifies one for ARV therapy. HIV kills these Helper T-cells and if one is left with 200 or less the person is then said to have AIDS and treatment is necessary to help the body rebuild its immune system. Nonhlanhla believes she might have reached that stage.

NONHLANHLA KUBHEKA: Yes, it’€™s what I think because of the virus in my body and the time that I stayed having this virus’€¦ Immune system is getting tired’€¦ So, I’€™m willing, really, to have my CD 4 count’€¦ If I need to take treatment I want to start it now. I don’€™t want to start it very late because I want it to work for me as much as I see it work for other people.

KHOPOTSO: Last month Nonhlanhla Kubheka noticed several boils on her body.

NONHLANHLA KUBHEKA: At the neck’€¦ It’€™s all over the body. I’€™ve got the other one here on the stomach and the other one was here on the leg’€¦ They’€™ve got that yellow thing inside when you press it’€¦

This is the first time that I experience this thing as a person living with HIV for 11 years.

KHOPOTSO: She went to the Wellness Clinic at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, to check what was wrong with her. She was given some ointment and Panado tablets to treat the boils. The clinic sister attending her did not even suggest a CD 4 count test on her, but told her that her Helper T-cells might be very low. In the meantime, the boils are a recurring nightmare for Nonhlanhla.

NONHLANHLA KUBHEKA: They go and come. They go and come because there’€™s nothing like anti-biotics that I get that can kill it inside. And what is causing this? It’€™s either it’€™s the stress or it’€™s the immune system. It’€™s down’€¦ He just told me that ‘€˜Oh, ah-ah, your CD 4 count is very, very low. It was 300. Maybe it’€™s around 100. He just assumed’€¦

KHOPOTSO: This is the first serious symptom she has ever had in two years of her 11 years of being infected. The first was in 2002 when she developed Herpes Zosta, also a recurring condition caused by stress or unprotected sexual contact.

NONHLANHLA KUBHEKA: It’€™s small pimples with water inside. They come close together from the chest around the breast, to the back and the shoulder. Even now it’€™s still paining’€¦ Once you come (down) with it, it always comes (back). So, we need to avoid stress and you need to look after yourself’€¦ You don’€™t need to get infections. So, you need to go after, maybe, a month to drink the Isoclevera tablets’€¦ I asked the doctor: ‘€˜Why is it painful because there’€™s nothing now?’€™ But when the pain starts, you see ukuthi (that) it’€™s where I was developing Herpes. Then they said: ‘€˜It’€™s inside the blood’€¦ you need to drink treatment to kill it not to come out.’€™

KHOPOTSO: With two recurring conditions and an as yet unconfirmed CD 4 count that is reportedly on the downward slope, is Nonhlanhla Kubheka worried about her health?

NONHLANHLA KUBHEKA: I’€™m not scared, so far’€¦ Because of these boils that I develop that’€™s why I want to insist to take my CD 4 count’€¦ I’€™m willing to take ARV’€™s if it’€™s the time that I have to take ARV’€™s. I don’€™t want to take them when I don’€™t have a choice’€¦ The CD 4 count will show me whether I have to take them or not.                                

KHOPOTSO: She is well aware of the side-effects associated with antiretrovirals as well as responsibilities that come with taking lifelong treatment every day. But those are the least of her worries. Nonhlanhla first has to overcome her complex about taking pills.

NONHLANHLA KUBHEKA: My worry is that they are big. And this is an issue again because I’€™m afraid to drink tablets. But I’€™m ready to take them. So, I will try other ways to take them. They are many, and the size, others they are big, with the shape like round shape or V-shape’€¦ And then you think ukuthi (that): ‘€˜Aah, Eeish. Life, maar (but), it’€™s not fair’€¦ But I have to take it.’€™

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