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Episode 8 - Regular Testing

Life is full of uncertainties. There is actually so little that we can control. But knowing our HIV status is something that is in our control. What's more, knowing our status means that if we are HIV positive, we can start treatment and have a better chance at a full, healthy life with HIV. Effective treatment of HIV is completely time dependent. The earlier the disease is picked up, the sooner the treatment can start and the better the chance of a full, healthy life with HIV. Denial is still a huge factor leading to many people dying of HIV/AIDS in this country, and this week in Siyayinqoba Beat It! we examine the benefits of getting tested regularly.

Shalom Ncala: Sanibonani babukeli, kuyintokozo futhi ukuba nani kweli hlelo iSiyayinqoba Beat It! Lolu hlelo elawo wonke umuntu ophila negciwane lengculaza kungaba zizithandani , yimindeni, abangani, osebenza nabo noma abasebenzi kwezempilo. Namhlanje sidingida isihloko esisemqoka. Sigxoxha ngesidingo soba abantu bahlale bezihlola nokuthi umathola beneligciwane lengculazi bakhulume nodokotela babo, ukuze baqala imishanguzo. Kodwa kuqala ndamkela ithimba lethu elikhuthazayo. Sani bonani  nonke Samkela no doctor wethu wakule episode. Welcome doctor. (IsiZulu) Hello viewers! It is great to be back on Siyayinqoba Beat It! This is the show for everyone living with HIV, their partners, families, friends, colleagues and health workers. Today we tackle a very important subject. We are talking about the need for people to get tested regularly and if they do test positive, to speak to their doctor about starting treatment, but first of all welcome to the support group! Also welcome to our doctor for this episode. Welcome doctor

Dr Colwyn Poole: Hi Shalom, Hi everybody nice to be here.

Shalom: Isinyathelo sokuqala sokubhekana nesifo senculaza empilweni yomuntu wonke, huku zazi wena ngesimo sakho. Sonke sidinga ukuzihlola njalo. Akhe sibheke ukusihlola kutsho ukuthini.(IsiZulu) The first step in dealing with HIV in anybody's life is knowing your status. Let's go and see what testing entails.

Tumi Moleko: (SeSotho) Today I'm going for an HIV test and I'm a bit nervous. The last time I took the test was in 2006. I think it's better to know your status, that's why I am doing it.

Francinah Tsoai: (SeSotho) How can I help you?

Tumi: (SeSotho) I'm here for VCT.

Francinah: (SeSotho) Come take a seat. I'm Francinah, I'll explain a bit about the process of VCT. The process of counseling and testing takes about 40 minutes. You start with pre-test counseling and that takes about 15 minutes. From there you go to the lab where they take your blood for the test.  After that you wait for 15 minutes for the results. Once your results are available, a counsellor will call you into the counseling room for post -test counseling and then show you results. Don't be afraid to ask question and remember, everything is confidential. This is the waiting area. You can take a seat; a counsellor will be with you shortly.

Tumi: (SeSotho) During the pre-testing counseling, they asked if I had been tested before and what the results were. They also asked how I have been behaving since and about my sexual history. They counseled me about what a positive or negative result means. They also told me about the three- window period.

Counsellor: (SeSotho) You can go wait in the waiting area. The lab tester will come and you shortly.

Tumi: It's not bad!

Lab tester: I'm marking it so I don't mix yours with someone else's. So we're done.

Tumi: (SeSotho) After the actual test, they gave me the results, in post-test counseling. They told me what it means. They also said I should come again after three months, after the window period. And they gave me some advice on how to maintain my status.

How do you feel?

Tumi: Relieved very very relieved. At least sengiyazi manje I know where I am. I won't make stupid mistakes anymore.

Shalom: I know I was not a regular tester for instance before ndizo come across my status sami. It never occurred to me that I might have HIV. Is it that important to go for regular testing and did we all go for regular testing prior to us knowing our status

Busi Maqungo: (Ndandingayenzi nje into yo testa ndandingayi gcingi nokuyi gcinga) I never tested, it never even crossed my mind. I knew there was HIV. But I never thought of going for a test. The first time I went for the test I remember it was in 1995 I had and  STI. Actually I didn't for a test, I went to report an STI. Then the sister suggested now that you have an STI lady that means you haven't been practicing safe sex. So am going to test you. She never gave me pre or post test   counseling, she just tested me. (So zange andinikhe post test counseling zange andinke pre-test counseling, wavela wandi testa nje [IsiXhosa) and she told me to come the following week on Tuesday for a results and they came out negative. Now the second test is when my baby feel sick 4  years later in 1999. Yayibona lonto leyo. In between I never thought of going for a  test because to me it meant nothing.

Simphiwe Ngongoshe: Ndingomnye umntu uwa testa nge 90's Ukuba ndizo comparisha isikhathi sezi 90's abahlengikazi babengafundisekile kahle ngo HIV/AIDS nokuthi umntu anga testa regularly. [IsiZulu] I am one of the people who got tested in the 90's . In the 90's, the nurse weren't well informed about HIV/AIDS and regular testing.

Victor Lakay: I don't think we test regularly enough. I certainly was  testing but by the time I tested I already had angiocolitis. Which you will know sort of a virus infection on the sides and shows that. And the doctor actually advised and said listen I think maybe you should be going for a test. And I was like why should I be going for a test. In fact when I went back he said am afraid you HIV positive I didn't believe him. I thought he was joking

Busi: Why didn't you believe him?

Victor: Because I think I was in denial like anyone who goes for the first one hearing that they are positive it's disbelieve.

Shalom: I can still remember that it took me a while to actually come to terms with this situation. At some point I thought somebody must have gotten it wrong. Because everybody knows its scary situation to face up to it. Alternately the importance of going to test regularly can make a difference to every body's life. That's what I think.

Dr Colwyn Poole: Your stories are really interesting because they almost chart our history of VCT in this country. What was  there for Simphiwe in the 1990's when he tested for HIV. There was nothing really in terms of treatment, social support, and legal support. And now we have to fast forward to 2008. And if we compare it to 1990 or 1995 it's almost a different world. We have national policies, treatment for our opportunist infections we've got a county wide roll out of ARVs .We've   got PMTCT programme that is slowly strengthening. And if we compare those policies and practices however flow they are in our communities at this point in time it's almost a world  apart from what we had in the 1990's in this country.

Shalom: Siyabuya manje ninganyakazi.) (IsiZulu) We'll be back. Stay where you are!

Shalom: Siyanamukeka futhi ku Siyayinqoba Beat It!. Namhlanje sicoca ngokuzihlola . Udaba lwethu olulandelayo luqhambhuka eFree State. (IsiZulu) Welcome back to Siyayinqoba Beat It! Today we are talking about getting tested. Our next story is from the Free State.

Tumi: (SeSotho) Today we're at Harmony Gold Target Mine in Allenridge to see the VCT they are doing for men and women working in the mine.

Tshediso Solomon: (SeSotho) We launched our first successful VCT last year and this is the second one which started on the 31st of March and ends today. Although it was not the number we expected, the turn out shows that something is happening. We managed to reach at least 60% of the workers that came to test. There are those who still ignore it, because it's a voluntary thing you cannot force people to test.

Man with a microphone: (SeSotho) Viva basebenzi viva. Viva ngezempilo entle viva. Workers we want to thank you for coming to this event today. We urge workers who haven't tested yet, to go inside and get tested because the draw takes place and tickets are only for those who are tested. Today's prize is a cow, which costs a lot of money, so go inside and test.

Tumi: (SeSotho) what would your message be to other people?

Woman: (SeSotho) I would encourage people who do not want to test. It's important to know your status, especially when you are still well, because the process of getting treatment takes a long time. When you test early, you will know the right time to start treatment and you won't get sick.

Man with a microphone: (SeSotho) What do I have here in my hand?

Man: (SeSotho) that is a female and male condom.

Tumi: Buqala ukutesta ma? (IsiZulu) Was it your first time testing?

Woman: Andiqali last year benditestile this year ndiyaphinda futhi. (IsiXhosa) It's not my first time, I tested last year and this year I'm testing again.

Tumi: Uzizwa kanjani first time utesta bozizwa unjani? Buthukile noma buyazi noma urite? (IsiZulu) How did it feel when you tested for the first time?

Woman: First time bendithukile, kuba bathi noba ngubani angabegula. Ndfumanisa ukuthi ndi right akunamistake ndajabula ndavuya ndava ingathi ndivulelwe kwenye indawo.(IsiXhosa) The first time I was scared because they say anyone can be infected. Now I found out that I am fine, there was no mistake and I'm on top of the world.

Tumi: Sijwayele ingabantu abancane ngeminyaka abatestayo Yini into ongayitsela omama abadala nje ngaye ngoku testa? Yinto ingayitsela omama obadala njengawe ngoku testa ngoba baningi omama obacabanga ukuthi hayi sifo sabantu abancane abantu abasha? (IsiZulu) It's usually youngsters who come for a test. What can you say to mature woman like yourself about getting tested because many of them think it's a disease for youngsters.

Woman: Mna ndibona ngathi umama noba mdala mayezazi ukuthi unotata makahambe ayo testa otata abathembekanga. (IsiXhosa) I would say to woman with a partner, go for a test, men are not trustworthy.

Woman with cap: (SeSotho) After testing, the counsellor gives you a paper to take with to the clinic to know your CD4 count. If I have a boyfriend, I must tell him that I got tested so he can also test.

Man: (SeSotho) I got the courage to test so that I know my status, and now I feel satisfied knowing my status. I am encouraging my friends and family to also get tested.

Woman: The other nice thing is that counsellor explain very clearly that even if you test HIV positive, you shouldn't worry because you are still going to live for long time. That makes me happy and I encourage people to go and get tested to know their status.

Shalom: Sometimes people think that if you find out about your HIV status it normally means you got to ARVs and that  is an easy process. But it's very hard, What I wanted to point out is that how important it is to find out early so that you don't waste time, excess the right information, excess treatment on time as well. Its a question of trying to balance the whole situation and get to know  your status as soon as  possible and actually getting to treatment which is going to be much effective whilst your nice and healthy.

Busi: When I started ARVs Kwa Langa where I took my ARVs, they do CD4 count every six months after you started talking ARVs. So the first six months my viral load had gone done to undetectable  which made me very happy. And my CD4 count went down to 300 I can't remember 300 and something. But when I went back for the second time, for the second parch of CD4 count it was 498 that was within a space of a year. It had gone up 498 close to 500 which is quite nice in my case.

Victor: I think that Busi was probably the model patient my CD4 count was 2 and the doctors in fact said this is going to be a  bumpy ride. Because firstly the side effects that you are experiencing are far more intense because your immune system is weaker. And you take so much longer to recover if you cloud then you really should be making sure that you test regularly you know you CD4 count you get on ARVs, and then like Busi you don't experience the side effects as intensely. And you immune system is able to recover and a faster pace.

Shalom: Sithatha ikhefu siyabuya manje (IsiZulu) We are taking a quick break. Be back now.

Shalom: Siyanamukela futhi ku Siyayinqoba Beat It! Namhlanje sikhuluma ngokuthi wonke umuntu angazihlola kanjani izikhathi ngezikhathi. Udaba lwethu oluloandelayo woludabukisayo ngomuntu owaphuzwa ukuhlolwa. (IsiZulu) Welcome back to Siyayinqoba Beat It! We are talking about getting tested today. Our next story is a tragic one about someone who tested too late.

Amanda Funani: Namhlanje sithetha nge early testing. Siza kudibana ne sister ka Ian Phillips. (IsiXhosa) Today, we are talking about early testing. Let's go and meet Ian Phillips sister.

Myra Lynn Meyer: Even from the very beginning of Ian's life he had an incredibly adventurous spirit. He was an extremely intelligent man. He graduated with a PhD, doctor of philosophy in history and politics and he was involved in the political movement right from the very beginning, and after the new government actually came into power Ian became the special advisor to Minister Jeff Radebe.

Jeff Radebe: He was such a good parliamentarian using every space and opportunity provided by parliament to advance the cause of the majority of South Africa's people.

Moyra: It was about two or three years ago that Ian actually said to me that he had an HIV test and he had tested negative. Then it was actually the beginning of this year that he was tested again, and it was then that he discovered that he was in fact HIV positive. There was denial, as I mentioned: "It can't happen to me, it happens to somebody else." And I don't think that any of us that are willing to stand up and be absolutely vulnerable, especially when you are in a high position.

Dr Rean van Dyk: We weren't really surprised to find an extremely low CD4 count in Ian; almost not at all compatible with life or at least a normal defense system. But as it goes in medicine, especially with people with such a depleted immune system, they are always at risk to fall prey to another opportunistic infection. Although we got a hold of CNV infection, there could be another kind of infection, like pneumonia, encephalitis or fungal infection, which they are pre disposed to get. In Ian's case, he was very unfortunate and he certainly did contract other secondary infections and his general condition deteriorated although he was tolerating his antiretroviral very well.

Moyra: It was extremely traumatic. It was very quick. From when Ian was admitted to hospital to when he died was exactly a month.

Dr Rean: If only we had had six months time on our side. If only the diagnosis was made six months earlier. Generally speaking this should not have happened.

Moyra: It is imperative to have the antiretroviral treatment. Absolutely! So Ian would say: "Maintain a healthy diet, without a doubt have the support of your family, loved ones and friends but for goodness sake go on to ARVs."

Dr Rean: The catch is to start in time, and again it is most likely that the one single thing that caused the death of Ian and so many others in this country is a late diagnosis.

Moyra: But today a voice calls out to all who have locked themselves in silence regarding their HIV status. Whether it is through fear, whether it is for shame or whether it is through misunderstanding. The voice that we bring to you today is to say HIV is treatable. HIV is manageable.

Jeff Radebe (Minister of Transport): I will miss you my friend, my confidant, my brother.

Shalom: Lokhu kwakungafanelanga ukuthi kuyenzeke futhi kuyandidabukisa. Sasingekho isisdingo sokuba lomuntu ashone. Kwenziwa yhini ukuthi omuntu ofunde njengaye wayevele azivebe nje? (IsiZulu) This should never have happened. It makes me sad. There is no reason why this man should have die! How is  it possible that an educated man like this could be so much?

Busi: I think ujuphendula umbuzo wakho Shalom, kwicase ka Ian, I think isiphindisela kulento yobana kuye I had more to do with status. Because abantu abakwe sasi status sakhe because we get to link HIV with abantu abahluphekileyo with abantu abasuka ezilokishini nabanga fundanga njalo njalo. So for wena as a person okwe sa status sakhe for a person osuka epalamente they wouldn't think that bona kwi enviroment yabo kungakho umntu oHIV positive.(IsiXhosa) To answer your question Shalom, Ian's case had more to do with status. HIV is mostly associated with poor people from the townships and uneducated people. They wouldn't associate a person of his calibre with HIV.

Simphiwe: Angafunda abenezimali abasepalamente asebenze kahle  aphile kahle uma into ingeka fiki kuyena akakholwa ukuthi yinto ekhoyo leyo emhlabeni. So into esiyibona ku Ian Phillips at least izakuvula imiqondo noma inqondo zabantu ukuthi umuntu makangahlali ukuthi sisikathi sokuthi umuntu makathi wake up azingani nesimo sakhe sempilo. (IsiZulu) He can be educated, have money, work in parliament and live a good life as long as it didn't affect him, he didn't see it as a problem. Hopefully the Ian Phillips story will make people think and want to know their status.

Victor: Its particularly moving for me on the Ian story is that I could have been another statistics too that clearly what had happened there was that he tested very late and so there wasn't much time. We really working against time. It could have been me and I think most people are testing too late that  we sufficient help.

Busi: Cause we don't want Mandela to come out and say my son was killed by HIV. We want him to come out and say my son is living with HIV. We don't want people like Gasha Buthelezi to say my sons and daughters have been killed by HIV. We want them to say my daughter and son are living with HIV. You know things like that, that is why the poor benefit and the upper class they die , and HIV kills them. And us we live with it.

Shalom: Isinyathelo sokuqala sokuzinakekela kukuhlolwa njalo. Uma unaleli gciwane udinga ukunakekelwa njalo phantsi kweso lomhlengikazi noma udokotela nokuqala ukwelatshwa ngemitswanguzo,  uma udokotela wakho esekuvake ehlelweni lwayo. Ukuqala ukusebenzisa imishwanguzo ngesikhathi kutsho ukuthi awufanele ukugula ngitso nangosuku olulodwa. Siyakuthokozela uvo nemigcabango yenu. Sibhaleleni kuleli keli elivele kumabona kude wenu manje. Noma ufuna ukubuka banzi ngaloluhlelo ungazifundela kwi website yethu engu www.beatit.co.za. Sizophinde sibuye ngeveki elizayo ngaso esi isikhathi. Kuze kube ngokuzayo zivikele uvikele nabanye. Protect yourself and Protect others !Bye bye (IsiZulu) The first step in taking responsibility for yourself, is to get tested regularly. If you test positive, you need to be monitored by a doctor and go on ARV treatment. You have to take your medication once your doctor has prescribed your treatment. Starting ARV's on time means that you shouldn't be sick for one day. We love hearing from you. Drop us a line on the details on your screen. If you want to know more about the show you can visit our website www.beatit.co.za .We will be back, same time, same place next week. Until then, protect yourself, protect others! Bye bye.