Searching for a cure

'Minni' came to meet Sheba at the clinic today. Minni's name is (of course) a pseudonym. Sheba's isn't.

Minni is seriously depressed. Her husband died of HIV. She has the disease. Her daughter has been taken away from her - 'for her daughter's good' and is now in the UK.

Minni stays in the police lines. Her husband used to be in the force. Her friend 'Shobha' who is also an AIDS-widow (albiet HIV negative) and whose late husband was also a policeman - brought her today.

When Sheba asked Minni what was on her mind - Minni wanted to know about the new cure for HIV that she had seen on TV.

"Which cure?" asked Sheba.

"The one that they said was 91% effective" said Minni.

"Our anti-retrovirals are already 99% effective if you take them right" said Sheba as the conversation wound on.

Minni wants to get rid of the HIV in her body. Her immune levels are really good. She has a CD4 count of 1300 - very much in the normal range for most people who do not have HIV.

But Minni desperately wants to 'get better.'

She has been going to an 'ayurvedic' doctor to boost her immunity. He has told her that if she takes his medicines her CD4 counts will go up. She has been giving him Rs. 4000 per month for his 'meds.'

Money down the drain. Or at least put it this way - money that goes straight into that greasy man's pockets.

She has been checking her CD4 counts every month. "Its going down" Minni said sadly.

Hardly.

As she was leaving she took out a large black cloth and tied it tightly around her head like some kind of a scarf.

We invited Minni to a Family Bible Camp that we are running for and with our HIV Positive Friends early next month. We expect about 80 or so folks to be there. Last year's time was tremendous encouragement for many.

Sheba talked with Minni and prayed with her.

Depression doesn't leave easily. Its not like you can lean it against the door like you do your multi-coloured umbrella.

What a person hopes for - and their ways coping - are just not things that we can peel off like you shuck an ear of maize.

We are grateful that Shobha brought Minni to meet us today. The next steps are not going to be easy - but we know that it is possible to live with hope.

In the mean time - we do so very much want to see a complete and final cure for HIV.

We are blessed to have Anti-retrovirals (ARVs). Last month and the month before we did not lose a single one of our HIV Positive Friends. We hardly see TB in the 100 odd folks who we are following up on ARVs.

But we still need more. Anyone fancy a Nobel prize in Medicine? Its up for grabs for whoever can show us how to completely rid the body of HIV. So completely that we can stop whatever the treatment it is - and get on with life.