HIV IS AS OLD AS I'AM

By Olivia A.P Abraham

I turned 30 in October last year and enjoying the beginning  of my life, the mid way to 60, a limit I have given to myself before most vitality is shed off and my kids think they can give me advice. Most people I love have died from HIV/AIDS and most whom that are still around have it.. And both the remaining and gone are such important factors to both my life and the future of my country. Educated, highly skilled and loving people are swipped by this virus that seems not to have any discrimination.

I have enjoyed the presence of many loved ones due to the states provision of Antiretrovial therapy which only began  in June 2004, before then only wealthy people could access the life saving medication. The only thing killing people with the virus now is hunger, improper medication, drug abuse, stigma, reinfection and denial. The other treatment  greatest handicap is the inadequacy of the healthcare system, which suffers from high patient numbers, lack of physical space and infrastructure, and – most critically – too few staff. 

I will tell you a story about one of my heros with HIV, a widow left with two children both female and five dependants in 1997, all children still in School. The woman's name is Adalieda,* she is now 53 years old, but she was only 38 when her husband died of an AIDS related illness. Adelieda was a Degree Holder when widowed, but as soon as she buried her husband she fought hard and got a Scholarship for her Masters degree, and soon she was in Europe, leaving her children in the care of elder relatives.

But her stay was interupted by a bereavment  that made her travel back to Zambia, as the head of the family they didnt bury until she landed. When she got out of the plane, no one could recognize her as she had lost so much weight and needed help walking. Everyone in her family could not bear the idea to lose her that they encouraged her to get tested and she did. Adelieda accepted her new situation when she tested positive and soon started her treatent which she still takes to date. She returned courageously to Europe and completed her Masters degree with her ill health. When she returned after a year, she was fat and healthy, the treatment had worked, the pills were sent to her via mail service and she followed through consistently. To date all her five dependents and two children have completed tertiary education and she has built 3 houses and is still working.

The Antiretrovial treatment has saved so many lives that have gone to save other people's lives too, imagine if she had refused to take the medication, all those fatherless children in total seven would have either become street children, prostitutes are destitutes. Instead because of accepting the new found stituation, Adelieda, has raised children who are economists, accountants,public relations practictioners, lawyers, 2 civil servants and a shop assistant. All these children are contributing to the nations GDP, thereby making this country better. We need people to go face to face with the 30 year old giant, like little David did with Goliath. We need courage and not denial, we need compassion and not stigma, we need food and not politics, we need proper health care and not fake religious zealots. We need people to realise that this Virus has come, it has settled and who knows soon we could have a cure, but so far we need to adhere and not abuse drugs so that the nation may prosper to greater heights.

Lets exort our heroes who have conquered our 30 year old mischievious virus. If we are negative, lets stay that way, if we are positive, lets be proud and soldier on, taking care to take drugs on time and remember to eat well and excercise. Be happy.