“I Was Not Scared to Receive the Results”

Fourteen years ago, at the height of the HIV crisis in Zimbabwe, Linda Ngerenge gave birth to twins. One year later, Linda’s husband and one of her twins passed away because of AIDS-related illnesses. At that time, Linda and her second twin were both diagnosed HIV-positive and were initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Both are healthy today.

Linda, now 35, joined a Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention Project (ZAPP) support group and eventually became friends with a man who is also living with HIV and remarried. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) works with ZAPP to reduce new HIV infections in children. ZAPP gives health education to the community: mothers, fathers, pregnant women, and even those who are already on antiretroviral treatment.

In 2007, Linda became pregnant again and, with the support of counselors at ZAPP, enrolled in a prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program. She gave birth to a boy, who is now 9 years old and HIV-negative. Two years later, Linda became pregnant again and gave birth to twin girls, Sharon and Sasha.

“When I was pregnant, I took it upon myself to adhere to ARVs [antiretroviral medication] and follow all the advice given by nurses and doctors from the clinic until the day I went into labor and delivered,” says Linda. “After delivery, I was very happy that I had safely given birth to twin daughters.

“I took both of them to the clinic for the HIV blood test at six weeks,” she says. “I was not scared to receive the results as I was convinced that I had done everything in my power to minimize the chances of transmitting HIV to my daughters.

“I received the results, and indeed both my daughters are HIV-negative! I was ecstatic because here in Zimbabwe a number of women have given birth to twins where one would be HIV-positive and the other HIV-negative. Then I took my twin daughters for a confirmatory test three months after weaning and they both tested HIV-negative. Now they are 7 years old and healthy!

Linda now volunteers as a ZAPP counselor.

“Within the community I am supporting other women living positively,” she says. “My focus is especially on pregnant women who have tested HIV positive, who may be stressed of being newly diagnosed to be HIV positive. I support them to accept their HIV status, using my life story and helping them to appreciate the possibility of also giving birth to children who are free from HIV.

“My message today to all women in Zimbabwe is ‘Do not be too scared to conceive and have children because of your HIV-positive status. Just follow the advice from nurses and doctors as well as adhere to HIV care and treatment as I did. Then you will also have children who are free from HIV.’”