Maravi

Learning from Mildred's example

Learning from Mildred's example
By Editor
Wednesday August 01, 2007 [04:00]

The Shona people of Zimbabwe use an adage: “The frost must have been very severe to motivate the tortoise to climb the tree” to illustrate that people are capable of doing impossible things. For many years, many of our people have been calling on prominent personalities and other high profile individuals in society, especially those who are HIV positive, to help break the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS by coming out in the open.

In particular, journalists have been singled out to practice what they preach because almost on a daily basis they are reporting on the challenges of HIV/AIDS. Through their work, journalists offer criticism, advice and opinions on this unprecedented disease that is spreading like bush fire in all the inhabited earth.

It was therefore heart-warming for us to see veteran journalist Mildred Mpundu gather courage and voluntarily tell the world although she was HIV positive, she didn’t feel it was the end of the world for her. Only yesterday, this was an impossible thing to imagine could happen, especially in our country.

Indeed, there is need to break the ice, demystify the pandemic and look at HIV/AIDS like any other disease. Many people, including journalists, have died earlier than they should because of living in denial. They have failed to come out in the open because of the perception that those who suffer from HIV/AIDS are promiscuous.

Yes, in some cases this might be true. But it is not true that everyone suffering from HIV/AIDS has led a life of promiscuity. Like Mildred rightly observed, HIV can be acquired in various ways. And medical experts tell us that in the minority of cases, HIV can be acquired in ways that have nothing to do with sexuality.

But whatever the case, we feel that people should not allow themselves to be consumed by something that can be held. Again, medical experts tell us that AIDS does not kill. What kills are opportunistic infections resulting from a compromised immunity following an HIV infection.

This is why it is important for people to know their status in order to take appropriate measures in preventing the HIV infection from spreading freely and without hindrance. From Mildred’s experience, the need for people to go for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) cannot be over-emphasised. Mildred feels that if she went for VCT earlier than she did, she was not going to be in the poor health condition that she is in today. When people go for VCT, they are advised on how to proceed in life depending on the results.

Those who have taken ARVs and other measures in good time have enjoyed good health. They have continued to perform their various roles in society. Some of them are breadwinners who have continued to provide for their families. Others hold very key positions in strategic institutions that are helping to keep our country’s economy back on the rails. They have continued to play these important roles because they are being sustained by ARVs. If they adhere to this, they can live as long as the lifespan allows in Zambia.

But those who choose to hide the disease have ended up dying when they should be living. That is why high profile people in our society who can manage to influence public opinion are always encouraged to play their part in this fight against HIV/AIDS. These include journalists and politicians, among others. If a prominent politician can today stand up and say they are living positively after undergoing VCT, more and more of our people will appreciate the need to know their status before it is too late.

But as we encourage people to go for VCT, let us also remind them about the need for prevention because it is prevention that is better than cure.

Without doubt, sexual activities today account for more cases of HIV infections. While the usage of condoms is encouraged, it can never be said to be a totally protective tool from HIV infections together with other sexually transmitted diseases.

We hope that Mildred’s story will give all of us a lot of lessons to learn from. Mildred regretted her previous lifestyle which she thinks is responsible for her present condition. Clearly, if Mildred avoided certain things she did some years ago, she would not have been in this condition today. She has given us enough lessons which she learnt through mistakes. So there is no need for us to wait to learn from our own mistakes. Let us learn from Mildred’s mistakes today and make a difference tomorrow.

Labels: AIDS, EDITORIAL

posted by MrK @ 3:44 AM