SUBSCRIBE
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi

Podcast: Activist speaks candidly about living with HIV

by Vuyile Madwantsi
30th November 2021
in Podcast, Trending
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Podcast on living with HIV

In this week's episode of Sister Without Shame, Tebogo Mothoana talks to Noluthando Ngcakani and Dawn Noemdoe about his journey living with HIV. Photo: Health For Mzansi

On episode four of Sisters Without Shame we are joined by Tebogo Mothoana, an HIV/Aids activist from the Free State. The Bloemfontein native speaks candidly about his experience living with the treatable chronic illness.  

After being diagnosed with HIV/Aids at the age of 25, Mothoana took to social media to spread awareness, detailing his journey with the virus.

“HIV comes with the reputation of claiming lives. The stigma attached to it doesn’t help either. By educating and accepting the virus, we will contribute to an acceptance and understanding that will bring about decisive change,” he says. 

The effect of stigma and discrimination fuels feelings of loneliness and isolation in long-term survivors of HIV. Mothoana highlights the importance of a stable support structure in his journey.

“Being diagnosed with HIV/Aids forces you to re-evaluate your life. I rely on myself for a lot of things but I needed help because some things are too heavy to face alone. My mother has been there every step of the way.”

My body has been responding to antiretroviral treatment! Its such a beautiful thing to watch. The gains are evidence❤😍ARV glow up!

Remind a black child that there is still life after testing positive for HIV❤🏳️‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/7Se8XH71ul

— Donovan (@DMothoana) August 6, 2021

Picking up the pieces 

By the time he was diagnosed, the virus had progressed to Aids. 

“My immune system was already severely compromised as my CD4 count was 175, below the compromised level.”

A CD4 count (cluster of differentiation 4) is typically reported as a count of cells (cells per cubic millimetre of blood).

Sometimes results are expressed as a percentage of total lymphocytes (CD4 percent). A normal CD4 count ranges from 500–1200 cells/mm3 in adults and teens.

HIV/Aids activist, Tebogo Mothoana. Photo: Twitter

So, Mothoana had to take action. Dietary changes included a lot of vegetables and water. “I was advised that drinking plenty of water is critical because these are potent medications that can harm your kidneys if [they are] not properly hydrated.  

“I ended up joining the gym because the doctors warned me that the treatment would cause me to gain weight so it was critical I adopt a healthy lifestyle,” he says.  

Stigma is deeply ingrained in people’s beliefs. “Stigma is like racism.” He explains that it’s easy to teach people to love but teaching people to unlearn toxic behaviour is something that is nearly impossible. 

Education plays a pivotal role in eradicating the stigma attached to HIV.  

Safe sex practices, PREP (post-exposure prophylaxis), a treatment plan and support groups are conversations that we need to normalise.  

“Normalising these conversations can help reduce or lower the likelihood of contracting the virus and spreading it unknowingly.” 

ALSO READ: Covid-19, a life of shame and stigma 

‘Our health system is cold’ 

He highlights a major challenge in the healthcare system when dealing with HIV patients: A more sincere and humane approach is required and patients should be treated as such. 

Mothoana believes that the HIV counselling offered at the time of diagnosis feels scripted and impersonal. This at a time where people need support the most. 

He explains that a person’s life changes dramatically when they have been diagnosed with HIV. The treatment plan they will have to undergo, the side effects they may experience, the dietary adjustments and their overall lifestyle are altered dramatically as a result of the news they received.

How you manoeuvre this, is crucial, he says. “Don’t rush to be okay. Healing is a process.”  

How to listen to Sisters Without Shame 

Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices). 

Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device.

Option 3: Click here to listen on Amazon Music.

Option 4: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.

Option 5: Just click “play” to listen using this player.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
Tags: healthy lifestyleHIV/AIDSTebogo Mothoana
Vuyile Madwantsi

Vuyile Madwantsi

Related Articles

Looking out for others is second nature to Kelebogile Mojanaga who used this gift to help shape her career. And for those considering clinical pyschology as a career, she advises: always put your own mental health first before taking care of other people.
Conversations

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

by Dawn Noemdoe
4th December 2023
0

Looking out for others is second nature to Kelebogile Mojanaga who used this gift to help shape her career. And for those considering clinical psychology as a career, she advises: always put...

Read more
HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

1st December 2023

Podcast: Prostate cancer, a silent killer waiting to strike

30th November 2023
Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

28th November 2023

Stories

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC
From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!
Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy
Peeved protesters demand a new hospital in Gugulethu
Podcast: Take a step into the world of living with a disability
Mealie meal: Mmmm … More than just a much-loved staple
Keep young kids safe as diarrhoea season kicks in
Podcast: Removing the taboo from the topic of male infertility
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Advertorial (3)
  • Choices (66)
  • Conversations (238)
  • Grow It (89)
  • Liewe Lulu (34)
  • My Health (190)
  • Nutrition (6)
  • Podcast (101)
  • Recipes (75)
  • Remedies (13)
  • Trending (433)

Recent

Looking out for others is second nature to Kelebogile Mojanaga who used this gift to help shape her career. And for those considering clinical pyschology as a career, she advises: always put your own mental health first before taking care of other people.

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

4th December 2023
HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

1st December 2023

Podcast: Prostate cancer, a silent killer waiting to strike

30th November 2023
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!

From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!

Darrel Adams was fascinated by the sirens of ambulances from a young age. Photo: Dawn Noemdoe

Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy

Clinical psychologist Mojanaga champions self-care

HIV/Aids/TB: Turbo charge your immune system with nutrition

Podcast: Prostate cancer, a silent killer waiting to strike

From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more!

Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC

Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy

No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

By continuing the use of our Website, you are explicitly and actively consenting to our processing of your personal information as per our Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Cutting through the complexities of circumcision in the EC From baking to healing, bicarbonate of soda is all that and more! Paramedic Adams relishes role as emergency go-to guy Peeved protesters demand a new hospital in Gugulethu Podcast: Take a step into the world of living with a disability Mealie meal: Mmmm … More than just a much-loved staple Keep young kids safe as diarrhoea season kicks in Podcast: Removing the taboo from the topic of male infertility