It’s Never Too Late To Get Tested

Nkanu started worrying about the health of her unborn baby when she failed to gain weight. Then the fevers and night sweats started. Despite her misery, Nkanu was unable to find a proper clinic close to her village in northwest Angola. As her due date neared—in her eighth month—she made the decision to leave her husband and firstborn child and travel alone up the Congo River to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo—where her mother lives.

At the Mbakani Protestant Church maternity center, Nkanu received her first antenatal check-up. In their regular course of antenatal care, health workers administered an HIV test and a tuberculosis (TB) test. Nkanu tested positive for both.

Because HIV weakens the immune system, TB is one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV.

“The day I learned my HIV status. I was so depressed,” says Nkanu. Right away, she was given TB treatment and two weeks later, she was started on antiretroviral medication. “After another week, I gave birth to my son named Orlando—three days ago. I need to get well so that I can take care of him.”

Banzadio Mathy, the HIV Focal Person at the health center, counsels Nkanu that as long as she sticks with her treatments and gives Orlando HIV prophylaxis, both she and her son can live long, healthy lives. Along with the medication, Banzadio is providing nutrition supplements to help Nkanu gain weight.

“You came very late. That is why your health is like this, says Banzadio. “But since you are now taking your medicine and you are eating many things, you will get very fat and forget about HIV.”

“Now it is important that you call your husband and tell him to come here with the firstborn child so that they can also get tested,” says Banzadio. “As long as you are coming to this HIV corner, you have access to everything you need. Exams are free of charge and medication is free as well.”

“In six weeks we will test your child for HIV. We will also connect you with a psychosocial support group so that you can talk to others living with HIV.”

Nkanu is still shaken by the news that she is co-infected with HIV and TB, and she worries that she may have passed HIV to Orlando. But she is grateful that she made the trek to Kinshasa and was tested and placed on treatment. If Orlando is HIV-positive, he will have access to lifesaving antiretroviral medication.

Had Nkanu stayed in her village, it is quite possible that she would not have survived TB and Orlando would have grown up without a mother.

“This is hard news,” says Nkanu. “But at least now I can have hope for my future and for my child.”