South Africa: Life With HIV - "I Need to Take the Blood Tests, but I Also Need the Job"

HIV can have a devastating effect on people and their families, particularly if they are poor and unemployed. Without treatment you may be too ill to work, but without money you might not get the treatment you need. MBALI JILI* (25) told Zimasa Matiwane about her struggle to get onto treatment and hold down a job at the same time.

I have been HIV positive for five years. About two years ago my CD4 count dropped really low and I started taking anti-retroviral treatment (ARVs). But it took two months after the doctor ordered the treatment for me to receive it.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.