on Saturday we hosted the 2008 AIDS day in grabouw, the small town we work in over here in south africa, the day was set up to be a fun day for all the family, we had games, face painting and entertainment on from 9am till 4pm and although the weather was a little overcast the day went really well.
today 1st december is world AIDS day and as part of our day we tried to encourage as many people to have a HIV test as possible, in a town where as many as 34% are already infected we still need people to know their status and it was wonderful to see so many people take the test, me included!
why did you take the test i hear you cry, well for one i wanted to set an example and second i felt that i needed to know the procedure that people go through so at around 3pm on saturday i started my 15 minute counseling, with one of the thembacare nurses who was going to guide me through the test and my results....the whole process was so well conducted, if a little embarrassing for me and her as she asked some very personal questions regarding my sexual activity.
whilst i was pretty sure that i knew my status, i was struck by the fact that those people sitting around me were not and some were going to receive some news that would change their lives for ever. after my blood was taken i waited for another 15 minutes to receive my results, of which i would receive some further counseling dependent on my status, those around me also waited for their results and without giving anything away i was fairly happy in comparison to some of those who were tested with me.
having HIV isn't the end of the world and what with the treatments that NGO's like thembalitsha provide these people can live a 'normal' life, however those who tested positive will certainly have to change the way they live and the stigma attached to this disease will also prove hard to live with, if they disclose their status to their family and or employer they may be kick out of home and maybe even lose their jobs.
please pray for the people that were tested on saturday and those many millions who live with HIV and AIDS in south africa and across the globe today.....
thanks for this tim - it really helps us to think through what it must be like. imagine sitting there not knowing, but in the back of your mind half suspecting that it might be positive... how sick would you feel?
Posted by: treforW | December 02, 2008 at 10:26