HIV Care for 5000 children/caregivers in Swaziland

Kudvumisa Foundation has been expanding the in-community HIV and health services to more remote areas in the Lubombo Region.  Just this past month the new community of Mbokojweni in Lomahasha was added to our service area.

Part of what makes the Kudvumisa HIV services so effective is the combination of setting up in a central location in the community and also going door-to-door to offer services.  While conducting the door-to-door HIV testing outreach, the staff were met by a very excited man who literally jumped up and down in excitement.  He wanted to test for HIV but had refused to go to any of the government clinics as he would have to stand in a que for hours to be seen, wasting time he could have spent being productive in his fields. 

He gladly took the HIV test and the result was reactive, i.e. he was HIV+.  Using the point of care CD4 lab equipment the staff carry into the field each day, his CD4 count was performed.  It was 353 per micro litre which is well below the World Health Organization's threshold for initiating him on Anti-Retroviral Therapy.  He was sickly with skin rashes and flu. He agreed to be enrolled on pre-ART and was treated for the rashes and flu symptoms. He was soon after initiated on Anti-Retroviral Therapy at his home by the Kudvumisa nurse.

The staff collected sputum samples to test for TB which thankfully came back negative.

Today he is on ARVs which will help drive out the HIV virus from his blood. As he regains health and strength, he will be able to work his fields and take care of his family. Hope restored!

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