It is always my pleasure to write to you and let you know of all the things that are happening at the Foundation.
This time, as I sit to write, I am reminded of the fact that October is breast cancer month and I think of all the survivors out there and those on treatment and my prayers go out to them. I am also reminded of the story of Tsepang Setaka, an HIV patient in Lesotho.
Ms. Setaka was kidnapped and raped repeatedly in October of 2001 on her way home from school. When she succeeded to escape, her sister took her to a doctor who tested her for many things including STIs and pregnancy but not for HIV, she reported to the police about her rape but was accused of lying and nothing was ever done.
In October 2002, Ms. Sekata on her way back home was approached by four boys as she waited for her taxi home. They forced her to go with them but this time she was able to defend herself with the help of villagers. This time, while in the hospital to care for her injuries, she decided to test for HIV. Given that she was in the last year of school, she did not return to get her results since she was afraid that a positive result would interrupt her studies.
Months after her exam she went, alone, to get her results and she was told she was positive. She was later diagnosed with TB and her doctor asked her to test for HIV not knowing she had already tested. Tsepang retested and the test was positive. Her doctor sent her to “Karabong” (which means “an answer”) clinic for her HIV care. This is a Clinton Foundation supported clinic. In October, after seven months of treatment, Tsepang CD4 went from 122 to 292.
“Before,” Tsepang says, “I had bad memories of October and each year it was a month I did not look forward to, but that has changed. Now that I am here with you in October, this is a very happy night.”
Ms. Sekata has gone on to become an expert patient at the Karabong Clinic providing encouragement to other patients who have lost hope and to those who need follow up. With her story, I ask every patient out there to take a lesson from Tsepang’s life.
Do not lose hope! Keep fighting for universal access and a cure. As always let me know what you are thinking, drop me a line.
