Behind the Photo: A Story of How HIV Treatment Saved a Family
By Emily Lee
June 2009 -- The photo on the University of Washington Department of Global Health’s home page is of Ruth Lorena and her son, Ludlem, in Mozambique -- a story with a truly happy global health ending. Ruth is a second-year medical student at the Catholic University of Mozambique and has a bright future ahead of her. But her future might well have been quite different.
Ruth was only 15 when her mother, Florencia, tested HIV positive. This was in 2002, a time when very few people living in Mozambique with HIV had any hope of receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART). But Florencia, a nurse-midwife, happened to be working for the right organization. She was regional coordinator of maternal child health activities for Health Alliance International (HAI), a non-profit affiliated with the University of Washington. HAI has long had a policy that ensures free ART for employees. Florencia immediately started on the treatment in 2002 and responded quickly.
“Florencia would not be alive today if she hadn’t gotten this treatment when she did,” said Dr. Steve Gloyd, Executive Director of HAI and Associate Chair of the UW Department of Global Health. “And who knows what would have happened to Ruth.”
Florencia still works for HAI in Mozambique and is still doing well on ART. She has three other children – two just graduated from universities in South Africa, and another just started there. Ludlem, now 2 years old, is under the care of Florencia and Ruth.
“Florencia and her family are a classical example of an HIV-treatment success story --families living healthy, productive lives, thanks to good care and access to treatment,” said Gloyd. “And it’s not just her story; this story is being repeated throughout Mozambique. “The Mozambican government has provided free HIV treatment to all, nationwide, since 2004.
HAI had long been a major advocate for AIDS treatment , and their advocacy efforts led to a partnership with the Clinton Foundation to help the government create its first national AIDS treatment plan. The Mozambique government currently treats more than 130,000 people with AIDS cocktails, including Florencia. The government guarantees her lifetime treatment.
The photo was taken by Dr. Wendy Johnson, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health and Director of New Initiatives with HAI.
