Grace, a mother of two from Nyahururu, regrets engaging in transactional sex during a Safari Rally in Naivasha.
Grace lost her mother at age five and was raised by her grandmother. After finishing primary school, she sought work and eventually became a nanny. She married the man she loved and had two children, but ended the marriage due to his abusive behaviour.
After moving to Naivasha, Grace was introduced to prostitution. During the Safari Rally period, she met a client who offered KSh 5,000 for one night. The client refused protection and gave her KSh 10,000 along with a morning medication.
Three days later, a friend took Grace to the hospital, where she received treatment. After an HIV test, she learned she was positive, marking a life-changing moment.
In global medical news, researchers report that the oldest patient yet has been cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant performed in the U.S. The patient, now 66, had been living with HIV since 1988 and was also being treated for leukaemia.
The transplant involved a donor naturally resistant to HIV, similar to the method used to cure Timothy Ray Brown, the first “Berlin patient,” in 2007. After three and a half years and chemotherapy, the patient stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART) in March 2021 and has remained in remission from both HIV and leukaemia for over a year.
Scientists explained that the donor’s rare genetic mutation prevented HIV from infecting cells. While the procedure is not viable for most HIV patients due to its risks, it provides hope for those with HIV and blood cancer.
Additionally, researchers in Spain highlighted a 59-year-old woman who can maintain undetectable viral loads after stopping ART, offering clues to potential future cures.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reported that the COVID-19 pandemic reversed progress in fighting HIV, especially in Asia and the Pacific. Researchers emphasise the continued need for awareness, treatment access, and innovative therapies.
