Bukavu Week 2.2

Tuesday.

Still no permits and we leave that aside and go to Bagira, home of MSF’s HIV clinic to meet the patient groups. Sergi and I left Evariste at the town square and walked over to the clinic, greeting people along the way. Many would greet me by name…after three years, they still remembered.

My heart quickened as I go to the clinic, hoping to see the patients I met back then and hoping to see them in good shape. Mama Josephine was the first one, and what a sight! Strong, happy and very much alive. It is clear she’s doing something right. I start asking how her evolution has gone and she shows me her patient card. Cd4 in 2003, 24, today it is 530 and still on the same regimen.

So many naysayers said that in Africa you would have to switch regimens due to poor adherence and resistance and here is a group of 1200 patients on ARV’s, most on first line treatment and all adherent.

They still have the patient entry system in place, candy-pill trial and all. They share their experiences with patients starting treatment and they have formed their own group as PVV’s (Person Vivant avec le VIH/SIDA, people living with HIV/AIDS). Since the arrival of money from the World Bank, they received funds to help their children and those without parents, get their school dues paid.

Teachers have not been paid by the state for the last 8 years, even though their official salary is $10 a month. So they get their money directly from the children they teach, $45 dollars per school year and a child can access learning.

Unfortunately, these monies, although promised have not been given in full. It seems to be a repetitive story of money arriving, but not in full. We all know funding is time-limited and must be disbursed within a fiscal period, so where is the rest of the money for the funded school fees program?

I won’t get into this, but it is a sad reality to see the sprouting of so many “sensibilization programs” of groups that have no experience or connection to HIV/AIDS work being funded and those who do have the experience and capacity are not benefiting from this largesse.

On the walls are posters showing the number of members, classified by gender and age group; the number of people, the number of deaths in 2004 and for 2005. 2003 was the start in treatment and the PVV group is for those under treatment. In 2004 17 members died and 5 in ’05.

Total123
24 men
99 women of which 60 are widows…

It is clear to see how the “cocktail” has impacted this group of people. It also shows a gender disparity in accessing treatment. Maybe it is cultural for the man not to accept weakness as in getting care for their health. Maybe it is a result of conflict that men remain in the jungle, but for those in treatment, in spite of all the limitations, getting treatment has clearly enhanced their lives.

Off to a youth sensibilization center, sponsored by Halt SIDA (Stop AIDS). Here is where I start witnessing the emancipation of the activist in Sergi. Three years ago, we met on this very place. He was jovial, respectful of the culture and very interested in the subject. As time went on, he understood it better and started making opinions.

He understood the urgency of HIV/AIDS and believes, like myself that it will not get better unless PVV’s move from being the problem to being part of the solution. And so, before my eyes I am seeing the activist in Sergi come out. Provocative, sensitive and strong, he addressed the young people on all subjects; testing, condom use and personal responsibility.

We definitely have a new foot soldier…so good that there are 7 people so far that responded to his call to test and are willing to share that with him and his camera. He is interested in showing the process of deciding to test to find a universal story and share this with others and help get people to know their status.