Tsikira is HIV positive and she lives in Gwanda, a district in
southern Zimbabwe. she is finding it difficult to come up with a plan to survive. Like many other areas of the country, people here are
facing one of the worst periods of food insecurity in years.
People in Gwanda are among those most in need. Matebeleland South
province, where Gwanda sits, has the highest prevalence of HIV in the
country, at 21 per cent. One in five adults 15-49 is HIV positive.
Gwanda itself has an HIV rate of 15 per cent.
Taking the
medication on an empty stomach results in nausea, so she often stop
taking it because it makes her feels so sick.
Like many Zimbabweans currently affected by food insecurity, Tsikira
is beginning to reduce her meals to one per day. she eats twice a day or
once a day. she stops taking my medication when she runs out of food and it is
happening more lately. On the medication, if she hasn't eaten, she becomes
dizzy, weak and she feels sick.
From her home in rural Gwanda, Tsikira runs a small business selling
clothes. She says she makes approximately 10 US dollars a week, on
average, which is enough to support her, her daughter and grandchild.
But due to rising food prices and drought, business is slowing. She
says she is lucky to sell something once every two weeks. her business
will not be viable at the moment. No one has money for clothes. she is
really worried about this coming period
Tsikira knows the impact a lack of food and money has on her health.
"I am concerned about my health as I stop taking the medication. I
become open to opportunistic infections, and I have no money to get them
treated or to even get to the clinic. Once, a few years ago, I went to
the clinic when I was sick because I didn't have enough food. But
looking back, the situation now is much worse."
Law says Tsikira's situation is common for people living with HIV in
food insecure regions. "It's a dangerous and downhill slope. People
living with HIV/AIDS rapidly become sicker and vulnerable to other
conditions. As Tsikira says, they will stop going to the doctor as they
can't afford it. Food is the priority for whatever little income they
have."
The IFRC and the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society have launched an
emergency appeal to support 10,500 of the most vulnerable people in
Gwanda with immediate food assistance. The operation will target people
like Tsikira living with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women, child-headed houses
and the unemployed. The response will be implemented over seven months
and will also support people with longer term activities, such as
learning improved farming techniques, so they can better prepare and
adapt to future disasters.
