HIV patients praise AHF’s assistance

Eastern Cape residents who are HIV positive and have been assisted by the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF), yesterday told of how their lives had changed since the organisation had arrived in the province a decade ago.

They shared their stories during AHF’s 10th anniversary celebrations at the East London ICC yesterday.

The celebration also paid homage to the foundation’s 30th anniversary globally.

AHF dignitaries, Middledrift Clinic beneficiaries and those from surrounding small towns celebrated the foundation’s achievements.

Patients also came out in their numbers to testify to the impact the foundation had had with fighting and treating HIV in the province.

When Bongani Zwane of King William’s Town first encountered the AHF in 2007, his CD4 count was at 14.

“I wasn’t on any treatment and my life was wasting away. AHF helped me with counseling and support and they helped me come to terms with my condition.

“I moved from being just a patient to also getting involved in helping other people living with the condition,” he said. — nonsindisoq@dispatch.co.za