TB and HIV are the top causes for mortality in South Africa, taking people’s breath away. As a doctor, I was inspired by the Treatment Action Campaign, to overhaul our expired approach to TB care and spearheaded nurse-managed ARV care that inspired my service users. This breath-taking memoir will inspire you.
“GET UP! PICK UP YOUR MAT AND TOYI-TOYI.” is a moving account of a person aware of the inequalities of racism, poverty and the HIV/AIDS/TB pandemic in South Africa. He became involved in grassroots political and health service movements whose strategies were to inform and mobilise the people most affected facilitating agency of those who have been ignored, giving them a voice in the shaping of their own destiny. This narrative of the struggle for ARVs is embedded in the author’s personal story, his struggle with depression.
It should be compulsory reading for all health workers. The book documents an important period in medical and struggle history.”
Abbreviated review by Dawn Garisch, doctor, author and founder of the Life Righting Collective.
This recording provides sneak readings of extracts by the author, Hermann Reuter, introduced by Dawn Garish and comments by Sindiswa Godwana, who started ARVs 16 years ago.
