Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - Sunday 31 March 2002
Craig Jacobs
Patience Mqoqi and Pinkie Nocwezo are two of the bravest women in South Africa.
Tomorrow, the two young Soweto mothers will disclose their HIV status to millions of television viewers in a documentary called Mother to Child. Millions more living in 19 other countries will also get to see the moving documentary.
The 40-minute programme, being broadcast on SABC1 at 10pm, shows Mqoqi and Nocwezo attending a support group for HIV-positive mothers. Both were given the antiretroviral drug nevirapine to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the disease. Both gave birth in front of the TV cameras.
Climax
The climax of the documentary comes with blood test results that show both babies to be HIV-negative.
It ends with the statement: "At present the government is denying public access to HIV preventative drugs. Antiretroviral drugs like nevirapine are only available through pilot projects and drug trials to 10% of mothers. . ."
This week, Mqoqi and Nocwezo criticised the government's policy of not making antiretroviral drugs available to HIV-positive pregnant women countrywide.
"I am so angry," said 26-year old Nocwezo, who, like Mqoqi, 27, had access to nevirapine through a pilot study at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. "Why do they talk about side effects now? It is like they don't want to give it. They don't want to spend their money."
Mqoqi urged the government to rethink its stance on supplying antiretroviral drugs.
"It is sad, our leaders. Instead of building up the nation, every day, every day, people are dying. But still they are refusing to give it out. Don't they know what it feels like, watching a baby getting skinnier every day? It is very hurtful to see your baby suffering."
In one of the documentary's most moving scenes , Nocwezo tells her boyfriend and her mother, who is visiting from the Northern Cape, that she is HIV-positive. Nocwezo's boyfriend is visibly distressed and angry, driving off, while her mother is dumbstruck. Her boyfriend subsequently returned to her.
Nocwezo said she was still battling to deal with her status, having only learnt she was HIV-positive after a routine blood test during her pregnancy in July last year.
"Sometimes I still don't believe it. But I tell myself that it is part of life and I have to go on."
Both women say they have no regrets about disclosing their status in the documentary.
Fears
"It changed my life totally," said Mqoqi. "I was able to confront my fears, to talk about them. When I walk out my gate [at home] I feel like I am a gorgeous person. If you don't want to accept me the way I am, you have a problem. I am living positively."
SABC1 head of programming Siven Maslamoney said: "What this film does is look at the issue from a mother's point of view. It is totally different from having a political argument about nevirapine."
Director Jane Lipman said the filming process was draining for everyone involved. " I think Patience and Pinkie are brave, brave young women," she said.
Health Department spokes man Joanne Collinge declined to comment on the documentary before seeing it. But she said there was "always room for creating awareness and creating debate".
"One can only welcome the decision by the SABC to create a regular slot for HIV awareness."
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