HIV-Positive

     The other day we met with a man named Lumkile. He worked for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). He was HIV positive and wore a shirt that read, “HIV positive.” He wears it in his community. He doesn’t want others to be ashamed of their status, as he once was when he found out he had HIV in 1999. He refused to believe it and continued to have unprotected sex with the same women. One night he was alone, lonely, sad, crying. He was angry, angry with the women who may have given him this disease. He would blame others in anger because it was easier. Then he stopped saying that it was no one’s fault but his own. He had the choice to use a condom and he didn’t. He had complete control over his sex life and he chose not to control it. And now he wants others not to have to experience the same thing. He wears his shirt with confidence, not afraid for others to ask him questions. He wants others to have hope and know there is help. He has been taking ARVs for 10 years and has not been sick. If others come forward to get tested and treated, their lives could be greatly improved.

            I find it amazing he would be brave enough to wear that shirt. I would be freaked out to wear a shirt around saying I have the flu for fear of others wanting to keep their distance from me. I give him a lot of respect. He is brave. He is courageous and I look up to him.  He wants to make a difference in the community and he is making himself internally uncomfortable to do so. He is vulnerable, something not many people in my community could sat they do on a daily basis to complete strangers. It is refreshing to see people here trying to make a change. Many people I talk to get angry and think no one in Africa is doing anything about HIV, that they are all just running around promiscuously having sex and that the US or other countries are they only ones doing anything about it. But that is not completely correct.

            There are people in this community trying to make movement. Trying to educate, create hope and solve complex problems. I think this country still has a lot to fix with respect to the issue of HIV/AIDS (about 25% in the community has it) but I feel and trust in the fact that they are moving in the right direction. I know this will get better. The passion and leadership is amazing here. This community is amazing and is doing great things to progress this world. I look forward to seeing the progress and keeping up with the events of South Africa.