Cosmus Makwere

and requisite qualifications he got employed.
After working for several years he tied the knot to his long time lover.
The two lived well for sometime before their marriage started to show fissures.
Cosmus loved his wife and tried to patch up the union. However, after six years, due to irreconcilable differences the two went separate ways.
Heartbroken he joined the track down South like most young people of his generation.
Cosmuss story is that of one saved from the deathbed after being carefree with adherence.
“I went to South Africa in 2002 and stayed in Sofia town, Westbury in Johannesburg. I got employed and worked there.
“I did not indulge in any sexual activities since I was still heartbroken, so when I got ill I attributed it to the change of environment,” said Makwere speaking from his parents’ home in Mabvuku early this week.
By December 2004 Cosmus’ health had deteriorated and he still believed that the feet which were giving him some problems were due to the working environment.
He worked at an asbestos factory and had heard that asbestos causes some kind of illness.
Cosmus had itchy and pricking feet with pins and needles making walking difficult.
He got so ill so much that his friends he shared a house with literally dragged him to hospital.
“I was taken to hospital by my friends because I had lost weight.
“I got tested for TB and the results were positive. I was immediately started on treatment and was in hospital for four months,” said the cheerful Cosmus.
On being asked why he did not take an HIV test then he laughs and said he felt there was no reason to do so, he had not had any sexual relationship with anyone after his marriage.
For him there was no need, as he had been faithful in his last marriage so HIV was not a possibility, he believed then.
Cosmus said that his response to TB medication was slow and his friends had questions on why he was hospitalised for that long.
Cosmus was admitted at the general hospital for four months.
He finally left the hospital and finished off the course at home since he had two more months to finish off his course.
“The sister in charge at the clinic where I was referred to from the general hospital suggested I take an HIV test to which I objected vehemently,” he said.
On being reminded that anyone who had had a sexual relationship was at risk of getting infected with HIV, Cosmus could not believe that could happen to him.
It took time for him to accept the advice given by the nursing sister and on one of his visits to collect medication he decided to take the test.
“By then I was already recovered and I took the test.
“I tested HIV positive and did not believe it. To say I was shocked is an understatement,” said Cosmus.
He went home and decided to keep the result a secret.
“Since I had been ill my mother came to visit and asked that she accompany me to the clinic on my next visit, there I introduced her to the nursing sister and agreed that they could tell her everything,” said Cosmus.
Cosmus said he was advised that though he was on TB treatment he would also commence ARVs.
He was put on ARVs in August 2005.
“I was put on the free government programme in August 2005 and by the time my mother left South Africa, I was nearly fit.
“I remained behind and worked. People who had not seen me ill could not tell that I was on ARVs and I also started to believe that too subconsciously,” he said chuckling.
Cosmus cannot point to any factor that led him to default but just believed that he was okay.
“I stopped taking my ARVs in December 2008. I experienced no problems.
“The clinic sent me reminders and even phoned to ask me to collect medication, which I ignored,” he said.
Cosmus said the problem with defaulters is that they too do not even understand themselves hence cannot explain why they default.
“For a whole year and half I was fine but by December 2009 I got ill.
“Then I was working for a small company in the paper industry and attributed the illness to the paper dust.
“At work we were always given a pint of milk so I thought that was why I was not feeling well.
“It never crossed my mind that I had defaulted. You know with defaulters, denial plays a bigger role, which is the reason one keeps shifting the reason for being ill,” he said.
Cosmus said his guardian angel was his mother who visited again after learning of his poor health from his friends.
The old woman wasted no time and was again at Cosmus’ doorstep.
He said that his mother was touched but he did not tell her that I had defaulted.
“My dear mother took me back to the general hospital where my file indicated that I had defaulted.
“I was taken back to the counselling class and this time it was grueling since I was a defaulter.
“The hospital was in no hurry to commence me on medication since my file revealed that I was not a first time defaulter,” said Cosmus.
“The counselling sessions took me three weeks of two visits each week.
“I was very sick having difficulty to even walk and felt let down because the hospital was in hurry to put me back on ARVs,” said Makwere.
“It was costly to travel since I no longer had money but my nephew I had requested to join me at my workplace helped a lot,” said Makwere.
Hospitals explain the dangers of defaulting and before anyone is commenced on ART it is explained that it is for life. Unlike other medication that one can stop when well, ARVs are not to be stopped. That is the reality of it and one has to understand why.
All this is clarified during the group counselling sessions which later cascade to individual counselling until the staff is satisfied with each patient.
“My mother had to literally beg the sisterincharge at the hospital that she was Zimbabwean and needed to take me home otherwise the counselling was not yet done,” he said.
Makwere was lucky in that they listened to his mother and she was also counselled and told that they were now relying on her to monitor him.
Although Cosmus is literate and holds a diploma in his field, he still failed to understand that ARVs were for life.
He said that in South Africa, defaulters were common although medication is free.
“In the group I was we were 50. I nearly died because the new drug regimens were now very strong for my weak body.
“The nursing sister even suggested that I buy since I kept defaulting and getting expensive medication but my mother had to plead on my behalf,” he said.
Cosmus said the hospital staff was not tolerant to defaulters and he now understands why.
“The nursing sister would tell you that they will attend to defaulters at the end after giving priority to adhering patients.
“I was retested for TB and was found again to be positive.
“This had me getting to the lowest ebb of my life. I was put on stronger TB medication and the doses got me so ill.
“I was told never to dream of stopping. I got enough supplies and referral letters of transfer and got on the bus home which was a relief,” he said.
On the way passengers gave quick glances pregnant with questions and answers but Cosmus was no longer bothered.
All he cared for was getting home.
“I was home by Christmas time last year and immediately reported to Wilkins Hospital as required. I was not admitted but given medication and reporting dates,” said Makwere.
Cosmus said that he is now on lopinavir and ritonavir.
He also takes Avocomb, a combination of lamivudine and zidovudine and a TB treatment course, which he finishes in August this year.
Cosmus’ word of advice to all on ARVs is that despite the fact that one looks healthy or even stronger than before one must never default.
“It’s a ‘grave’ sin only punishable by death,” said Makwere chuckling that were it not for the timely response by his mother he could have died.
He said that he even knewsomeone who has been HIV positive for 33 years and is now on ARVs and does not default.
“I have learnt my lesson, my mothe