'Accept me as I am, or not at all'
2009-12-01 08:52
Special Report
The South African government has announced a joint venture to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral drugs with a Swiss company.
Pretoria - A young man who was infected with HIV during surgery to his leg in 2003, says he's very open about his HIV status, but it does have a negative impact on his love life.
Johan Stoop, now 19, was 13 years old when he was told that the donated blood he had received in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital had been tainted with HIV.
Shortly afterwards, Beeld reported on the struggles of the Stoop family of Bethal in Mpumalanga. His leg was amputated in August that year.
During this time, Stoop's father died. Since then, the family has lived in several places, including even a Wendy house.
CD4 count low
He dropped out of school when he was 14, and now lives with his mother in a caravan park in Lydenburg.
"We make cards and cakes of soap which Johan sells for some extra money. He did receive a welfare grant for a while, but that was stopped because he has to get a report from a doctor again," said his mother, Francis.
According to her, Johan doesn't eat very much and he keeps losing weight. His CD4 count (which indicates the level of immunity) was only 378 last month, despite the fact that he takes his anti-retroviral (ARV) medication regularly.
"He says he doesn't like all the roaming around. He can't really bring a girlfriend home," says Francis.
Johan says he's actually fasting for the church. He's involved in youth ministry in Lydenburg.
He's open about his HIV status, but relationships remain a struggle. "I did meet a girl. She heard about the disease and then told me one night she'd met someone else, but we're still friends.
"I tell people I have HIV. They must take me as I am, or not at all."
Wants to become a pastor
Stoop has been walking with the aid of crutches for the past five years, and his body has grown quite skew. The artificial leg he received from a benefactor in December 2003 has broken.
“When my friend and I go to preach for those who need the Lord, I wear the little rubber shoes for my crutches away in two weeks.”
Stoop wants to become a pastor.
"We've had photos taken of him for modelling work, but the agencies say they don't use disabled people," says his mother.
After he was infected, the Stoops took legal action against the government and the South African National Blood Service. The case was settled in May, but the terms are strictly confidential.
- Beeld