VOA标准英语2009-Problems with Distribution of HIV Drugs Take

In South Africa, people with HIV are dying because they don’t have access to the medicine that would keep them alive. The government has pledged to provide antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to many of the HIV-positive people who need them. The pills bolster 1 weak immune systems, allowing people with HIV/AIDS to live long and productive lives. But in some parts of South Africa, state clinics have run out of the medicines or nurses are rationing 2 them in fear of shortages in the near future. VOA collected personal stories from AIDS victims and their families who are trying to cope with the shortage of drugs.

Darren Taylor | Mangaung, South Africa 21 November 2009

The soft sound of slowly rolling drums wafts 3 across a wasteland of yellow grass stubble. Screaming children push rough wire cars across the stony 4 field, between the guide ropes of the big tent that’s been erected 5 for guests.

There’s a funeral today in Silver City.

“I am Johanna’s mother,” says Masentle Mohajane,72.  “My daughter was a huge person, with a huge heart. Johanna’s big voice could always be heard around here, singing.”  Then, fighting back tears, the old woman smiles, “I can’t say she had the best voice on earth, but it always made me happy.”  

Johanna Mohajane,40, is dead. She died alone, unconscious, lying in blood and vomit 6, in a crowded state hospital on the outskirts 7 of Bloemfontein, the capital of South Africa’s Free State province. 

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) could have saved her from the infections that finally killed her.  But medical staff didn’t give it to her.  “It was a pointless, needless death,” says Johanna’s sister, Elizabeth.

‘The right medicine….the right treatment’ 

She recalls how Johanna was admitted to hospital, too weak to move.  “The nurses put her in a bed.  We asked them what was wrong with her.  They all said, ‘We don’t know anything.’  A few hours later, her face was covered in blood and mucous 8 from her nose. Her mouth was black from lack of oxygen.”

Masentle Mohajane holds a picture of her daughter, Johanna, who died, she says, after state medical staff failed to give ARVs to the HIV infected woman

“A drip that was meant to feed medicine into Johanna’s vein 9 was blocked,” Elizabeth says. 

Her mother adds, “We begged the doctors and nurses for help, but no one came, they were all too busy, the hospital is always full of sick and dying people.”

Within 24 hours, Johanna Mohajane was dead. 

Her family blames the Free State health department. Bitter words pour from her mother’s mouth.  “If (Johanna) [had been] given the right drip, the right medication, the right treatment, she would still be alive,” she states. 

Last year, the government produced a National Strategic Plan  aiming to cut new infections in half over the next two years.  It also aims to provide treatment for opportunistic infections caused by HIV as well has psychological and nutritional 10 counseling for those carrying the illness. ….

South Africa’s National Health Ministry 11 acknowledges that the ARV roll-out is beset 12 by problems. 

National health minister Aaron Motsoaledi recently said that the South African government will not be able to meet its target of providing ARV treatment to 80 percent of HIV-infected people by 2011.  

But the Free State government is adamant 13 that it’s living up to its obligation to provide ARVs to all who need them and that it did not fail Johanna Mohajane. 

TB and meningitis 

According to Johanna’s government death certificate, she died of tuberculosis 14 and meningitis – two diseases often associated with advanced HIV infection.  She was also taking bactrim and ilvitrim – antibiotics 15 commonly prescribed for HIV infection.  

“They are telling us Johanna died of something else, not AIDS-related,” says her sister.  

Lerato Tsamai (right), with her younger brother in their home in Freedom Square, Mangaung. She, too, couldn't acess ARVs, but her life was saved when an NGO gave her the medicine

“Nurses at that hospital knew all along that Johanna had AIDS.  They just never treated her, for whatever reason,” Elizabeth says.

Nurses at some clinics in Bloemfontein have told VOA that because of shortages of ARVs, the medications are sometimes rationed 16.

South African government guidelines say ARVs must be given immediately to those with severely 17 weak immune systems,  or  a CD4 cell count of below 200.  CD-4s are specialized 18 cells that protect the body from infection.  HIV attacks these cells and weakens the immune system, leading to the on-set of illnesses that a healthy immune system can withstand. 

A healthy person’s CD4 cell count is about 500.

Sello Mokhalipi, a fieldworker for the Treatment Action Campaign, which wants ARVs for all South Africans who need them, says, “All over the Free State, I am seeing people with CD4 counts of less than 10.  But they are not getting the drugs from state clinics. These people are dying of opportunistic infections.”

Recently, Nomathemba Gcuku,27, almost became one of these statistics.  In the Phase 6 section of the massive Mangaung district, she hangs washing under a fiery 19 sun, on a patchy lawn in front of her concrete-block home, which is wrapped in barbed wire.  “To keep the criminals out,” she laughs, prodding 20 her mangy pet dog out of her way with her foot. 

Elizabeth Mohajane weeps at the funeral of her sister, Johanna

A few months ago, feeling weak and close to death, Gcuku says she was forced to “beg” for help from a private doctor after clinics and hospitals “all across Bloemfontein” would not give her the free ARV medicine she needed to stay alive. 

“November last year was the last time I got any medicine from the state,” she says.  “I have watched other people around me die when they could not get drugs.  It is inhumane.”

‘Fear not…. I am with thee’

Across the township, a tiny but spick-and-span house bakes in the afternoon sun.  The house is in Freedom Square, a place where thousands of people live in poverty. Inside, Lerato Tsamai is cooking lunch for her brothers, aged 21 11 and 16.  Music blares from two tall speakers. “Living on a thin line!” screams the song on the radio, “Tell me now, what are we supposed to do?” 

Tsamai is 23, but looks more like 12.  “The illness wasted me away,” she says, almost apologetically.

“I was sick earlier this year.  I went to the clinic in Mangaung, and they were not able to put me on ARVs because they said, ‘Sorry, we have no drugs for new people; come back later."

Nomathemba Geuku says she almost died when a state clinic refused to give her ARVs

She would return to the facility constantly for medicine, only to be sent home empty handed. “They kept on telling me, ‘Later, later….’” But later never came. 

“I became so sick that I was admitted into a hospice,” Tsamai tells VOA.  “I was dying. There, an NGO worker finally got me drugs, and my life was saved.”  “I am with thee,” says the poster of a golden-haired Jesus hanging above her head. She closes her eyes and smiles.

Despite testimony 22 such as that provided by the Mohajane family and people like Nomathemba Gcuku and Lerato Tsamai, provincial 23 South African governments such as that in the Free State continue to deny the shortage or even the complete lack of ARVs in their jurisdictions 24. 

Back in Silver City, Johanna Mohajane’s body lies in a coffin 25 in a tiny room. Children play around it, oblivious 26 to death. Elizabeth Mohajane can’t help but smile at the irony 27. “So much life,” she says, staring at the skipping children. “So much life…..”