As World Aids Day looms, I am reminded of my recent encounter with a Somali shopkeeper. “Why are you wearing this,” he questioned me. “Why are you asking,” I responded.
The “why” and “why” conversation continued unabated without the desired answers.
“Are you positive?” he eventually and daringly asked. “Nope,” I responded. “But why are you wearing this?” he asked, again. “Why can’t I wear it? What is wrong with me wearing this T-shirt?” I asked him again.
Without uttering a word, a look on his face suggested that he was still uncertain and wanted to ask me further questions. “Do you know activism?” I asked him again.
At this point, I explained to him what activism is about. I went further to tell him that I have had the T-shirt in question for well over 15 years. I got it from the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) when there was a lot of stigma around HIV/Aids in the country and wore it without shame.
His attitude reminded me of 2011 when I visited Mthatha dressed in the very same T-shirt. I turned many heads. People weirdly looked at me, but never had the guts to ask or say anything.
More than 12 years later, I am again subjected to another prejudice.
“You are asking me if I am positive, but you cannot tell if I am positive or not. Activism is about fighting for what is just. It’s about putting yourself in the shoes of the victim. It is about breaking the stigma and educating people like you.
A positive and negative person are the same. You will only know their status if they tell you. So, there is no need to discriminate when someone tells you he or she positive,” I told him as I walked back to my vehicle. His face still showed signs of bewilderment. I walked away with a sense of satisfaction knowing that I educated someone about HIV/Aids and associated stigma.
My biggest concern though is to hear that there are still people who have an attitude against HIV/Aids. South Africa has made significant inroads in eradicating the stigma, however, it seems there are still some idiots who cannot grasp the fact that HIV/Aids is just another chronic illness, just like High Blood pressure and Diabetes.
There are many people in our midst who survive with the virus and have in the process given birth to healthy children. These people have outlived many who are HIV-negative purely by taking their treatment. It cannot be that in 2024 there are people who see or regard HIV/Aids as some kind of a threat or can still discriminate against those who live with the condition.
Please South Africans and anyone within our borders, let us respect the work that has been done to eradicate the stigma.
