HIV positive community ‘faces a wide range of challenges’
Updated | By Steve Bhengu
A Durban HIV activist, who has been living with the virus for 13 years, says the systems currently in place at health clinics and the differential treatment towards patients can deter them from seeking follow-up care.
"It is a bit challenging. You know, sometimes, people when they see you at the clinic they want to gossip about you because at some clinics you get a brown file and it's obvious that this person came for ARVs, you know. So, that is one of the reasons why people don't really like to go and fetch their ARVs and also at the clinic the wait is long."
Nequita Peterson spoke to Newswatch on the sidelines of a World AIDS Day event in Durban on Wednesday.
She says the HIV positive community still faces a wide range of challenges. But she's encouraged people not to give up the fight.
Peterson's among those living with an undetectable viral load, meaning she doesn't have to worry about infecting her partner as long as she continues to take her medication.
"You need to understand that once you're on ARVs and once you become undetectable it doesn't mean you have to stop taking your ARVs, once you are undetectable, you know.
“So, a lot of people mistake that and that's where they default. So, with being undetectable you are able to live a normal, healthy life, you're able to have kids, you're able to have a partner and not infect your partner. You are able to breastfeed your kids. Everything that HIV negative people can do, you can do as well."
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