mbulelo smpofu
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
“I TOLD my two-year-old daughter I had tested HIV positive and that for people not to laugh at me and her, she had to assist me in taking my Anti-retroviral tablets daily.
We did not have a watch, so when it was around sunrise she would come with my drugs and a cup of water. She saved my life, and here I am today.”
These heartfelt words came from Ms Really Makainganwa, a mother of four from Norton, who has bravely shared her journey from denial to acceptance of her HIV status.
In 1999, at the age of 26, Ms Makainganwa learned she was HIV-positive after her husband had tested positive first. Initially, she assumed she would be negative, feeling that her past as a virgin protected her from the virus.
“I later realised that virginity was not equal to being HIV-negative,” she explained. Her diagnosis at Wilkins Hospital pushed her into deep despair where she contemplated suicide until a church pastor offered her counselling and support.
Support groups played a critical role in Ms Makainganwa’s acceptance of her status. She joined the Tsungirirai Welfare Organisation and connected with the Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+).
“It took me five years to accept my status; I was in denial for a long time. After hearing stories from group members, I slowly accepted,” she said.
In 2005, treatment options were severely limited and with few affordable options available, Ms Makainganwa relied on home remedies such as moringa, garlic and turmeric to strengthen her immune system.
It was, however, after contracting tuberculosis that she was placed on a waiting list for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Tragically, many from her waiting list passed away before receiving treatment.
October 2006 marked a new chapter for Ms Makainganwa as she began her treatment journey. With two daughters, she chose to educate them about her condition.
“My second daughter, who is now a Biology teacher, was just two years old then. I told her I had tested positive for HIV, and she would play the role of a caregiver, reminding me daily to take my medication, that way she saved my life,” she reminisced.
“We would take the drugs at about 6am and 6pm, and she would announce when it was time, saying it was about 6am when the sun rose. That changed my life, and I am grateful to my daughter.”
Her daughter’s care-giving inspired Ms Makainganwa to become a leader in her community. By the time she reached Lower Six, she was a junior District Aids Coordinator in Norton.
In 2009, Ms Makainganwa gave birth to her third child — another HIV-negative baby — after receiving counselling on how to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT).
“I decided to have a baby because I had received adequate information on preventing the virus from impacting my unborn child,” she added.
Since her diagnosis, she has practiced protected sex with her husband to prevent reinfection.
“I eventually convinced him to use protection to ensure we didn’t expose each other to different strains of the virus,” she shared.
She later welcomed another child, bringing her total to four daughters, and has become a PMTCT champion, inspiring women facing similar struggles. Additionally, she serves as a behaviour change facilitator, distributing condoms in various public venues.
Ms Makainganwa credits her turnaround to the National Aids Council District Aids Co-ordinator, Mrs Virginia Tausa, who encouraged her to pursue education after she secured treatment.
“I went back to school in 2012 at the age of 41, studying both Form Three and Four. I sat for my exams in 2013 and attained impressive results. I then got a place to study for a Diploma in Education at the Zimbabwe Open University when I was 43 and graduated in 2018, I am a primary school teacher. I furthered my education and attained a degree in Inclusive Education and Special Needs and I have already started on my Master’s Degree too,” she said.
Reflecting on the stigma she faced in the early days following her diagnosis, Ms Makainganwa remembers being ostracised and treated with suspicion by those around her.
“I was given special utensils to use by relatives and was once denied the chance to help cook at a church event due to fears of spreading the virus,” she recounted.
However, she acknowledges that perceptions have changed significantly over the years.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, acceptance, and the critical support that loved ones can provide in the journey of living with HIV.
