Wonder Woman

South Africa

My name is Wonder Woman. I am a 54 year old woman living in Durban, KZN.
I am a community activist and a have been an ambassador for PLWHIV in the Southern African region as well as an advocate at international level for testing, treatment and care for HIV/Aids.

I was diagnosed with HIV at a random application for life insurance. I mainly dealt with the diagnosis initially with silence and then threw myself into work in the HIV sector supporting women with HIV, developing community responses to HIV and providing education and training on HIV.

In 2002 I started antiretroviral therapy. This was before therapy became available in my country, South Africa. I had already had multiple tuberculosis infections, pneumonia, skin disorders and had lost all my body mass.

I began treatment with my partner and husband and although we both became healthy immediately I struggled with an already compromised lung. In 2006 I had a lobectomy and my right lung was removed. After this procedure, I had a better quality of life as I was less susceptible to bronchitis and other chest infections.

My journey with HIV has been an interesting one. I went from keeping it secret, to working extremely hard as a way to deal with my own infection mentally, to becoming extremely ill to the point of being almost dead and finally having access to treatment when very few were able to being an outspoken person encouraging others to test and treat as well as lobbying world leaders on the international stage around rights and issues of PLWHIV.

It was during these international programs that I was able to visit lawmakers and governments to influence huge decisions like the PEPFAR fund to be used in the right place of testing, care and treatment.