Izwi lethu Edition 4 2015

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE

Issue 4

Izwi Lethu: Our Voice

June/July 2015

A NEWSLETTER BY SEX WORKERS FOR SEX WORKERS

IN THIS ISSUE

Masthead Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief: Tanaka Managing Editor: Greta Feature Writer: Kita Feature Writer: Skara Feature Writer: Lutse Feature Writer and Photographer: Amy Feature Writer and Photographer: Clara

Izwi Lethu is a collaboration between Sisonke and ACMS’s M oVE Project, funded by the Open Society Foundation Contact MoVE at methodsvisualexplore@gmail.com

Photos from SWEAT Media Training and from Durban Deep

Editor’s Note

Featured in this issue are photos from the SWEAT Media Training taken by feature writer Clara and from Durban Deep taken by feature writer Amy. Follow MoVE on Twitter and Instagram (@MoVESAfrica) and on Tumblr (methodsvisualexplore.tumblr.com) for more photos.

by Tanaka, Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief

Dear Reader, In this edition, we present you with a bigger than usual rendition of your beloved Izwi Lethu: Our Voice. This winter we are having the June and July issues combined just to keep you warm.

The month of June was a beehive of activity, th th with the 8 of June to the 12 being so historic and worth focusing on. This was the period when the 2015 South African AIDS Conference was held in Durban, Kwazulu Natal. There was much focus on sex work by plenary speakers, research presenters, and community activists.

The Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the need to focus on sex workers in successful HIV prevention and treatment campaigns. Research has revealed that there is staggering HIV prevalence in female sex workers in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. It is greatly remarkable that the Deputy President would respond to the sex worker issues, a subject that most politicians in high offices often avoid.

Photo by C lara

For more on this story, please go to page 8 and check out our blog: methodsvisualexplore.tumblr.com.

Photo by C lara

Yours truly, Tanaka

Photo by Amy

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

2

Photo by Amy

Zebra Stripes

by Amy, Feature Writer and Photographer

When you think about a zebra, you think of a beautiful and majestic wild African animal. My zebra stripes are nothing close to how beautiful and majestic a zebra’s are.

This is a story of abuse, drugs and booze.

In November 2011 I made a decision that would change my life forever. I was a drug addict. My drugs of choice was nyaope and rock. I felt like I had hit rock bottom, so instead of going to rehab, I decided to relocate to the Eastern Cape to live with my mother, whom I hadn’t seen in 20 years. It was an emotional reunion but I felt like I was home and I could overcome my addiction with my mom’s help.

I became sick because of the drug’s withdrawal symptoms. I was vomiting and had hot flashes and cramps. To

overcome all these symptoms, I started self-­‐medicating by substituting the drugs with booze. That turned out to be a huge mistake. I started going to clubs at least three times a week. I met an interesting man one night. He made me laugh, and he was polite so naturally I fell for him. We started dating, and it went well until I missed his call on a Friday afternoon. That’s when things began to change. We met that Friday evening for a night out. By the time the night was over, he had turned into someone completely different. We were arguing about why I hadn’t answered his call earlier, and he threw the phone in my face, giving me my first black eye. It should have been a warning of things to come. Over a period of time he became more and more aggressive, punching and kicking me whenever he felt like it.

I couldn’t leave him because I felt like he was the only person who understood what I was going through since he was a recovering addict too.

I had a hangover on a Sunday morning.

Feeling sore from the previous day’s

fight, I plucked up the courage to tell him that I was leaving him.

After I explained to him that I was tired of the abuse and I was leaving him, I realised that I had made a big mistake. I had just unleashed a monster. He stood up in a fit of rage and left the room.

When he came back, he had a rubber whip in his left hand.

Without warning he started hitting me, occasionally shouting, “If I can’t have you, then nobody can.”

He beat me until my clothes were torn. He kept me there for a week, cleaning my wounds and giving me food. I started feeling better and devised a plan to escape. He left for work on Monday, and I put my plan into action. When the landlord came up for a routine check of the flats, I screamed at the top of my lungs, pleading for someone to help me. Fortunately he heard me. He used his spare key to let me out and gave me some taxi money. I left.

When I got home my mom was at work so I took a bath and slept for the rest of the day. I woke up in the evening and didn’t have the courage to tell my mom what had happened. I was about to put on my pyjamas, and I walked past a full length mirror. That’s when I realised how scarred I was. I quickly put on my pyjamas because I couldn’t believe how hurt I was and how my body looked.

My self-­‐confidence was shattered, and I couldn’t look in the mirror anymore.

Over time I’ve learned to deal with my self-­‐confidence issues and accept my body the way it is and feel confident in my skin. The scars are fading now, but the memory is still engraved in my mind.

I laugh about it now with my friends, and I warn them about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and the signs of abuse. I fell into this trap because I was naïve. That’s how I earned my ZEBRA STRIPES.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

3

Media Training

by Clara, Feature Writer and Photographer

I enjoyed Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) Media Training, which I attended at Lamuna Hotel in Braamfontein on the 17th and 18th of June 2015. It was organised by Ruvimbo a Media Liaison with Sisonke and Lesego of SWEAT for Peer Educators. Many sex workers have gotten into the habit of being interviewed by journalists. You should be trained on what to say and what not to say to journalists. Some sex workers say things that they regret after. We do sex work while our relatives do not know about it.

With the help of Ruvimbo and Lesego, we trained as Media Liaisons for two days. At the training we learned about taking your time when you are about to do an interview. When you are doing an interview you must know what to say and what not to say. You must make sure you sign an agreement with the journalist so that they won’t sell your story or pictures. Sign an agreement on how you want your pictures to be published. If you agree to be captured from the front, make sure you know where those pictures are going. If a journalist captures you from the back you must make sure there are no mirrors or water near you that will cause reflection.

Before the interview you must RDP, which stands for Research, Practise, and Prepare. Self-­‐inventory is about how you feel before the interview, if you are able to stand up for yourself with the journalist so that you can stand up for yourself after the interview. You must have someone to support you and to discuss talking points before the interview. Also think of the potential harms that can affect you personally and those who are close to you if you engage in that interview. What is your support system in the worst case scenario after the interview?

Photos by Clara

Professional journalists do not ask you for an interview from the streets. They phone Sisonke or SWEAT and tell them they want to interview a sex worker.

Then SWEAT phones you and asks you if you are comfortable with the interview.

They help you do the interview. If you are not comfortable, you are not forced to do the interview, only if you are comfortable with the interview. Ask the journalist to fax or email you a copy of the questions before you do the interview. Get as much information from the journalist as you can. You must ask yourself, what will you archive by being quoted or spending time giving the reporter background or spending time giving the reporter background information. If you gain nothing, is the journalist worth helping out to develop a good relationship for the future, or is the story likely to be harmful. A story is harmful if it’s going to affect your relationship with your family. Are you the best person to give this information or quote to this journalist?

SWEAT trained sixteen members to help them with interviews with journalists.

There were members from different provinces at the media training.

Personally I had an advantage because I

have done photography and creative story writing workshops.

Before sex workers had a barrier, we didn’t have a voice. But now as a sex worker with a voice, I can take my time before any interview to prepare myself. I can say what I want to say and not be told what to say.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

4

Ask Dear Mastoep

by Dear Mastoep Dear Mastoep, If a client offers you a lot of money R1000 and doesn't want a condom and you have to pay the rent and the school fees for the kids and you don't have enough money in time and it's a short time, what can you do?

Dear Thinking of Taking Chances I know that making quick money sometimes feels like the best option especially if you haven’t made money on that day and you have bills to pay. But here are some things for you to think about, firstly anyone who is willing to have unprotected sex without knowing the other person’s status probably knows their own status and they are probably positive. Secondly, you also don’t know what their status is and more than that what other STIs they might have and also there is the possibility that you could become pregnant. Thirdly, I know you mentioned that you need the money for rent and school fees, but if you take the chance today you will make your money but what about the long run, what will happen to your children and your ability to work when you are sick. Sick could be from an STI and you are not able to do business for a month until the infection clears. So think about all of these things before you decide on whether you should or should not accept extra money for unprotected sex with a client you probably don’t know.

Regards, Mastoep

Dear Mastoep, What should we do if someone is selling us condoms?

Dear Condom User, If someone is selling you condoms there are some things you need to know, firstly is which condoms are they selling to you? If it is Choice condoms which the Department of Health gives them for

free and freely distributes why are you even considering paying them. If you look at the packet closely it says not for sale. So you are making people rich as they are not paying for their product but selling it. Here you can do one of two things but all mean you stop buying. But also I would advise that you report them as they are taking advantage, and you can report them to anyone from Sisonke or any sex work programme you know about. As they are not doing this to you, they will also do it to someone else and what will happen to you or others when you don’t have money to buy condoms?

If people are selling the Red Umbrella condoms then please do report them to the organisation that they are working for as those are also free condoms that are meant to be given freely to sex workers. Regards Mastoep

Dear MaStoep, Sex is usually driven by mood right? So how does a sex worker handle his or her business if they aren't horny? Will that day be their off day? Client T Dear Client T, Interesting question. I however want to throw the question back at you, seeing that I consider sex work as work. If you worked in a firm that paid you let’s say R500 per day and you woke up not feeling like working, would you give yourself a day off when you know you have bills waiting to be paid? It’s the same with sex working. If you have goals and responsibilities, whether you are in the mood or not, you have to work.

Regards, Mastoep

Photos by Amy

A Cheetah Never Changes Its Spots

by Skara and Lutse, F eature Writers

I learned something very interesting. If someone loves you deeply, you often take that person for granted. Most of the time we love people who do not love us in return. We tend to fall for those who are just using us. They target us because we are sex workers and we are making a lot of money. We advise sex workers to be aware of these guys. They are gold diggers. They have girlfriends in different hotels. They pretend as if they love us but in reality they are just using sex and money. They can change us for your lifestyle and routine because you find yourself clubbing every weekend with them.

If he can see that you are unmarketable, he will leave you and go out with your friend because you are broke and unattractive to him.

He will start demanding that you buy him expensive items like Carvela shoes, Uzzi clothes, Guess jeans and many more. You even give him money when you are going out, so that people think that he’s the one who is buying everyone beer. Yah! Jozi life is full of surprises.

Women are supporting men. These guys demand a lot from us without giving anything in return. You even forget about your family at home. Just imagine buying your boyfriend Carvela shoes while you don’t have any. These guys are

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

5

smooth talkers. They can convince you to buy anything and everything for them.

This is a warning to all sex workers and women in general, be wise and keep away from men who cheat and use women for their money. Always remember that a cheetah never changes its spots.

treatment, I’m strong and healthy. Now my CD4 count is very high and my viral load is very low. But I never left my companion till he had a heart attack and died in 2012. I was so careless and stupid for not using protection when we were having sex. When you are HIV positive please take your treatment and live a healthy life style.

Living with HIV

Papers

by Kita, Feature W riter

I was staying with my companion for four years. And he never told me that he was taking ARVs.Then in September 2006 I was attacked by shingles. I went to the doctor, and then the doctor said that I had to take blood tests. So the time I was contemplating on whether or not I should take the tests, my companion gave me a big book. In the book there were as many types of sicknesses as you can think of. So I went to the page of shingles. I read about it and found out the causes. Number one was stress. Number two was being HIV positive. Then I went for HIV blood tests, and the results came back positive.

Things were not easy at all. My CD4 count was 41, way below the healthy number of 200. My viral load was more than 1,000 while a healthy person has a viral load less than 25. I went for counselling and immediately I went on the ARV treatment. So every month I go to the clinic to fetch my treatment.

When we are waiting on the benches, people talk about their status freely.

by Clara, Feature W riter

Dear Sisters, I am writing this letter requesting all foreign sex workers who do not have proper asylum papers to please, stop buying fake asylums. The money you use to buy fake asylums, you can use that money for transportation to travel to Home Affairs to apply for refugee status. If you are gay or lesbian from Zimbabwe, you tell Home Affairs that you came to South Africa because the Zimbabwean President does not allow homosexuality in his country so your life will be in danger if you continue staying in Zimbabwe.

At Home Affairs service is for free. They help everyone regardless that you are a sex worker. What you do cannot stop you from getting an asylum.

Woman’s Legal Centre is there to help us but WLC cannot help when you are buying a fake document. Honestly you cannot expect Woman’s Legal Centre to help when you have a fake document or expired documents. It is also your duty to always check when your document expires and renew it.

Stop buying fake documents. Instead go and apply for proper documents and stop the police harassment. They take advantage of us when we do not have proper documents. Make sure you have proper papers, especially if you want to work in Randburg where there have been a lot of arrests lately.

Photo by Amy

One was looking very healthy, and she said she has been on treatment for more than 15 years. “You have to love your tablets. Don’t get stressed when it is time to take your tablets. It must be like you are taking sweets,” another person said. “Don’t get stressed. It’s your life.

You’re going to take it forever.”

I felt so encouraged, and they made me strong. Now I’m still taking my Photo by C lara

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

6

Durban Deep

by Amy, Feature Writer

It’s a windy Saturday afternoon, and I’m in Durban Deep. Where is Durban Deep?

Durban Deep is a small community just outside Roodeport. It’s a community that has become notorious for illegal mining, immigrants, and violence.

Most of the population here lives in three sections of squatter camps. It’s in these squatter camps that you find illegal miners and foreign nationals, mainly from Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Mozambique. There is also a section of Rural Development Project houses, which have been built as an extension of the old mine’s hostel. Durban Deep is a fairly poor community, making the crime rate very high here. There are gangs and drug dealers who occasionally fight over territory. With the recent xenophobic attacks, shops belonging to foreign nationals were looted.

With that said, members of the community of Durban Deep have found different ways to earn money for their families. In the squatter camps there are many spaza shops and a few women who sell take-­‐away food on the street corners. There are also dumpster divers.

These are the people who wake up at the crack of dawn to dumpster dive in the nearby suburbs and sell whatever they can salvage, including recyclables like plastic and scrap metal. The community of Durban Deep is striving to make their community a better place to live in. Although there is no electricity in the squatter camps, there are toilets and taps with clean drinking water. There are two community halls, a clinic, and a soup kitchen run by the women in the community.

It’s around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and I’m waiting anxiously outside Ntate’s shack. I met him on my previous visit to Durban Deep and asked if I could interview him. He agreed.

Photos by Amy

Ntate is an illegal miner from Lesotho. I found what he does fascinating, so I had to interview him. About 30 minutes later he arrives wearing a traditional Sotho blanket, a baraclava, and gumboots. He looks like he has just been through a sandstorm. He apologises for keeping me waiting. He said that he was busy purifying some gold that he and his team had from the previous day. He unlocked his shack and took out a bench for us to sit on. I offered to buy him something to drink.

their gold with no modern machinery.

Honestly, you’d have to see it to believe it.

He turned around and said, “A beer would be nice.”

I laughed and said, “It sounds like you’ve had a long day.”

He sighed and said, “You’d have to see it to believe it.”

Just as we were about to start with the interview, I saw a young man dressed in the same manner that Ntate was dressed coming up the street, blowing a whistle. Ntate quickly put down his glass of beer and said, “I have to go.” I asked him why he had to leave. He explained that the young man was sent from the mine to inform the community that a miner was trapped, possibly dead, in the mine. He had to go, and I couldn’t stop him. He had to go and help the others.

As for my interview, well, I was left with a glass of beer and the words, “You’d have to see it to believe it.” I’m a very curious person, so I took my camera and went to find out more about how these miners go about mining and purifying

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

7

No Time to Play

by Lutse, Feature W riter

Gone are those days, when I was a teenager. Sometimes I wonder how life would be if I had finished my schooling. I remember how naughty I was. When other kids were busy doing their lessons, I was busy playing. I used to bunk some lessons and beat other kids. Sometimes I imagine myself going back to school and finishing my education because education is a key to success.

Sometimes I just imagine myself sitting in my own office with my laptop. Maybe it’s time to change my life, because they say it is never too late and never say never, but I promise myself to give my kids the best education they can get. I don’t want them to follow in my footsteps. My first born, she is 18 years old. She wants to go to university and study law. So I am happy about her decision. My second born she is doing grade four, and my last born he is three years old.

I am deciding to go back to college or to do a course because I want to change my life. I can’t do this job of sex work for the rest of my life. My kids depend on my future. I don’t want to be a failure or a bad mother to them. So it’s time for me to stand up for myself. So there is no time for me to play. I’m planning to do home-­‐based care. I want to help old people who can’t manage to do anything for themselves. That’s the job I want to do. It’s time for me to do something for my future for a change.

I am no longer a teenager now, so there is no time for me to play. If I finish my course in home-­‐based care, I will be moving forward. I won’t go back to my old job. I will continue with my new one.

That’s what I want for my future. There will be a time that I will be old. At least if I am working a permanent job, I will get my pension.

Photo by C lara

The Challenges We Face

by Skara, Feature W riter

Sex work is not an easy job. One day my friend and l were standing at our corner where we do our business. It was on a Friday at midnight. Two men came looking for two ladies. They chose my friend and me for the night. They were driving a taxi. We charged them R300 each, and they paid us before leaving.

We pretended as if we had left the money that they gave us with friends but we hid it in our bras instead.

My friend and l were sitting at the back.

They told us they stayed at in Turfontein. Traveling from CBD to Turfontein takes about 20 minutes but they drove past Turfontein with us.

My friend asked them, “Where are you taking us?”

The driver said, “Shut up, bitch. We paid you.” He was very rough with us, but his friend was good. His friend said to him, “Please don’t do that to them. What have they done?’’ They ended up arguing.

We did not know where we were exactly.

The car was going so fast. We did not even have time to talk to each other. My friend jumped to the driver’s seat trying to hold the steering wheel, and then he stopped the car. His friend ran away. My friend started fighting with the driver. I was still standing because l did not know what to do but I did not want to leave her. The man was trying to kiss my friend, but she bit his tongue and he screamed so loud. We ran away, but we did not know where we were running to.

Luckily we were running in the right direction. After some minutes we saw a car flashing its lights. We were in the middle of the road, waving our hands.

He stopped. We explained what had happened to us. He asked us to jump inside the car. My friend had blood on her lips from the wound of the client.

The man who helped us dropped us in town.

If these things happen to you, you will be shocked for some days. After that you will be back and do business as if nothing happened. Sharing your stories with others makes you feel comfortable.

In this industry we face so many challenges.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

8

she was from and how she ended up there. She told me that she was from Limpopo. She didn’t say much, the only thing she said was please help me, aunty. I said, “I will help you.” It was her last words said to me. Then I watch her running back to that flat door no. 21.

Photo by Amy

African citizen and I know my rights, he simply told me “who cares?’’

Who Cares

by Amy, Feature Writer

Living in South Africa I ask myself that question every day. Honestly speaking, nobody cares or should I say nobody cares about anyone but themselves.

For instance, if you were to report a robbery, it would most likely take ages for the police to take action. It is not because there are no resources, we have plenty of those in South Africa. It’s just that nobody cares.

A simple visit to a local clinic could end up as one of the most traumatic experiences of your life. Health care workers humiliate and discriminate against patients. Just recently a lady from Zimbabwe walked into my local clinic. By the time she left, everyone knew why she was there because the health care worker told her to go back to Zimbabwe to get treated for her illness.

So why call her a health care worker when clearly she does not care?

I was stopped by the police who wanted to search me during operation Fiela.

When I refused to be searched by a male officer and told them that I am a South

To be honest, I have stopped caring too, not because I am selfish or don’t want to help. I am South African citizen, but nobody cares about that. So I’m wondering… why should I care?

Is She Still Alive

by Kita, Feature W riter

It was Saturday morning in Springs during Easter time in 2014 at the block of flats where I stayed. I went to hang out my washing on the line. I saw a young girl hanging a bath towel. She looked like she was frightened. Though I was busy hanging my washing, she drew my attention. I looked at her and said, “hallo.” She replied with a shaking voice.

She was so scared, looking around shivering. I asked her what was wrong and how old she was. She told me that she was 13 years old. When you looked at her she was very young, tall, thin, flat chest, fair in complexion, and she had braids on. I ask her where she stayed and she pointed at no. 21. I asked her with whom was she staying with, and she said she did not know them. At that moment I lost my breath, and I knew already something was wrong. I asked her where

I believe the police work with these criminals. Then I decided to call Independent Police Investigative Directorate (012 399 0000). We made an appointment and met on a Friday in July 2015. I explained what happened to the girl that I saw. We talked about a lot of things, they told me about girls from Limpopo and Pretoria between 13 and 15 years old being kidnapped by suspected drug dealers. The suspected drug dealers sell these girls at the price of R5000 each. They keep them in the house for weeks introducing them to drugs, and then they force them to have sex for money and they keep the profit.

If you know or see anything suspicious in your area report it to the police. If the police are acting suspiciously, you can report them to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) through the following number: 012 399 0000.

Immediately I walked to the police station to report. After I made the report, they told me to go home and they would follow me. I went back and waited for them to come, which took them four hours. By the time they came to search the flat, it was too late.

Unfortunately the girl was nowhere to be found. After that I had to move out of my flat because I was scared for my life. I believe that girl had been trafficked.

SAAIDS Conference

by Tanaka, Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief

Sisonke sent volunteers to attend the SAAIDS conference, and I have had the privilege to have an interview with three of them via the telephone. (These are not their real names.)

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

9

Tanaka: How were you chosen to represent Sisonke at the conference?

conferences. It means the conversation is going somewhere.

Londiwe: I am an active member of the Movement, I guess that’s why I was chosen.

It was such a delight doing these interviews. What got to me however, is how everyone of these lovely people that I managed to speak to, were always on the guard. It’s almost as though they had their ammunition ready, but upon hearing Sisonke Gauteng, you could literally feel the ease. I don’t know what to attribute this to, but whatever abuses that sex workers endure is taking a toll on our girls and something needs to be done!

Maria: I was ushering people into the Positive Lounge for some exhibitions.

Tanaka: How did you feel about the Deputy President of South Africa acknowledging the need for effective interventions towards successful prevention and treatment campaigns for sex workers?

Bongeka: I missed the Deputy President’s speech as I spent most of the time ushering in the Positive Lounge.

However, it is a relief to hear such encouraging words from the Deputy President himself.

Tanaka: It has been noted that there is a high HIV prevalence rate among female sex workers and Durban being one of the worst hit cities. How do you feel about this since you are a female sex worker and also from Durban?

Londiwe: It is very saddening, and I wish as the Deputy President has acknowledged the need to have more effective interventions, it needs to happen fast. I am also HIV Positive and I feel the pain of being a statistic. I always encourage women to use condoms and to be bold enough to initiate condom use with either their clients or partners.

Tanaka: What was your highlight of attending the SAAIDS conference?

Mariah: There was this HIV ambassador, I forgot her name, but she revealed she was diagnosed with HIV about 23 years ago. If you look at her she is so stunning and one would never say she has lived with HIV for so long. She also touched on loving oneself as key to a long life.

Bongeka: For me it is the fact that, as much as sex work is criminalized, our voices to some extent are being heard because we get to sit at such

The TAPS study will be enrolling 400 women to take PrEP and 300 women to take Immediate Treatment, all aged 18 years and older. The study will last a total of two years.

Tanaka: What role did you play at the conference?

The Treatment And Prevention for female Sex Workers project, or TAPS, is a study that is trying to find out whether HIV negative female sex workers will want to use PrEP and if HIV-­‐positive women will want to use Immediate treatment if these two new options were available in clinics. The study is taking place in Hillbrow at the Wits RHI Research Centre. A second clinic will open soon in Pretoria. Similar studies are also being conducted amongst other key populations in other countries.

Guest Column: One Pill a Day, Changing the Way

Even if we are offering PrEP and Immediate Treatment to participants, it is important that they continue to use condoms as much as possible to ensure maximum protection. Also, condoms prevent STIs and pregnancy, something ARVs cannot do.

by Gabby Dlamini, Patricia Radebe,

Judie Mbogua, R obyn Eakle, the TAPS Team

Why people choose to work in sex work may vary greatly but the one thing we know is that the risk of contracting HIV and other STIs can be high. 100% condom use is the best option to prevent HIV but the truth is it is not always a possibility for everyone.

PrEP and immediate treatment are revolutionising safe sex Recent studies have shown that if an HIV negative person takes ARVs consistently before engaging in sex they can be protected from getting HIV by as much as 75%. This prevention method is called Pre-­‐exposure Prophylaxis or PrEP. Other studies have also shown that if an HIV positive person takes ARVs when their CD4 count is still high they not only remain healthier for longer, but are also 96% less likely to pass HIV to their sexual partners. This prevention method is called Immediate Treatment (IT).

Do people want to use PrEP and Immediate Treatment?

So what have we learnt so far?

The feedback has been mostly positive -­‐ women on PrEP are happy to have a new way to protect themselves from contracting HIV. Those taking Immediate Treatment have said that they are happy they will be healthier for longer and experience fewer opportunistic infections (like TB), and that they won’t pass on the virus to their clients and loved ones. Some participants have been worried about the side effects of taking ARVs, however, any side effects have been minimal and only last a short time.

For more information: To find out how to join the TAPS study you can come by the Wits RHI Research Centre located at 7 Esselen Street in Hillbrow, or send an SMS of “please call me” to 061 604 3097. If you are in Pretoria visit the Sediba Hope Medical Centre on the 1st Floor, corner Bosman and Madiba Street in Pretoria, or send an SMS of “please call me” to 061 605 0627.

IZWI LETHU: OUR VOICE | Issue 4

10