Yola Mtshayi is a ten-year old girl who was born with HIV. She lives with her grandmother, Lungiswa Mtshayi.

Before she came across the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) Lungiswa had little awareness of HIV and AIDS and no access to anti retroviral treatment (ART) for her granddaughter. Today, after starting ART, Yola's CD4 count has improved from 2% to a healthier 35.6%

Empowerment through knowledge
Yola and Lungiswa are receiving support from TAC's Treatment Literacy Programme, which is funded by the DFID MSP. Founded in December 1998, TAC campaigns for access to treatment for all people with AIDS. Their efforts have resulted in many life-saving interventions, including the implementation of countrywide mother-to-child transmission prevention and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programmes. The programme is based on the idea that when people own knowledge they are in a better position to exercise choice and claim their rights.

Empowering people to take responsibility for, and control of, their health is a crucial aspect of transforming health care services and dealing effectively with the HIV and AIDS epidemics.

HLSP recently visited the Eastern Cape to meet the people receiving support under TAC's Treatment Literacy Programme.

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