A Woman's Strength
By Cibele Maquile
Gaza Province, Mozambique
May 28, 2008

Ana, an HIV-positive mother in Mozambique, actively participated in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission program while she was pregnant and religiously adhered to her own HIV treatment regimen. However, when she asked her husband, who was living and working in South Africa, to get tested for HIV, he refused.

Ana complied with all of the required steps to prevent the transmission of HIV to her child, and her son José was born HIV-negative. After her son was born, Ana continued to receive treatment for her own health at the hospital. We continued to counsel her and she agreed to bring her husband the next time he returned from South Africa.

Ana and her husband Miguel arrived at the hospital a few weeks later when their baby had a fever. We took advantage of this opportunity to test the baby again and to counsel Miguel on the importance of getting tested. To motivate her husband, Ana said she would like to get tested regardless of the baby’s results. We asked Miguel how he felt about getting tested as well. He smiled and agreed to get tested in a low voice. When we asked why he was smiling, Miguel responded that it was nothing.

While we were waiting for the results and explaining their meaning, Miguel did not stop smiling and we could not understand why. José tested negative, while Ana and Miguel’s results were both positive. We inquired if Miguel wanted to say something and he said, “Nurse, I am going to tell the truth. I was smiling because you found me out. What you are talking about today is not news for me because I already knew I was HIV-positive and am receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), only I did not know how to tell my wife. Here, my wife, so brave, came to the health center to get her pills and I, too, am taking ART.”

Taking advantage of this opening, we explained that Ana received medication in the PMTCT program and this most likely prevented José from contracting this virus. Miguel thanked his wife for the strength it took to save his son, even though it meant she hid her status from him. He also expressed his gratitude to the health staff for the support they gave his family.

My name is Cibele Maquile and I joined the Foundation in 2007 as a care and treatment officer. I am trained as a tecnica de medicina and I have worked for Nampula Central Hospital, Save the Children, and CARE International. Professionally, I am very satisfied at the Foundation because I get the opportunity to support health staff and work directly with patients. I feel that it is my calling to support those who are most in need of help.