I have not updated my blog for quite some time. I have no good reason to give to you. I apologise. I will work on improving and ensure that at least every week I have something new on the page.
Today I have been thinking about something which is
affecting a lot of people, especially those that are privileged to be educated.
Sad part is, they are ‘knowingly’ dying in numbers. Why is it so?
I remember a few years ago when we were burying a friend of
ours, one of the mourners (who never went to school) remarked that the illiterate
will always be burying the literate.
He may have said it comically, but indeed many of the
educated people get to be buried almost every day. And guess who is there to
give them a good send off? The so-called illiterates.
Since 2011, my call-back ringing tone is a song by Kalonda Band, titled Kalonda from Sinazeze in Southern Province. Simply translates it’s
a sore, small one for that matter. In this song, Kalonda Band encourage people
to come forth when they get sick instead of hiding and end up killing
themselves.
“Kolyaambilila bakusilike…” Open up so that you can be
treated. It does not get any simpler than that. (Medical) people can only help
you if you come open about the ailments you may have. Without disclosing to
anyone, then you are on a path of self-destruction.
I have a witnessed several learned colleagues, who, knowing
very well that they exposed themselves to HIV infection, decide to ignore and
move on with life as though they did not risk themselves.
I strongly believe that knowledge is power. Once you know,
you will have the power to drive your course of life in a comfortable way with
help from people around you.
Sad part is that those of us who have been to school, decide
to stigmatise against ourselves. Self-stigma has led to an ‘early’ grave for
most of my brothers and sisters. It has grown so much that someone would rather
be bedridden than seek treatment.
What is so scary about HIV that you would rather hide than
seek treatment?
And here I do not mean going round with a megaphone announcing your status to everyone you meet. Not at all.
When you know you have been exposed (for starters, everyone
who has unprotected sex is exposed to the risk), you owe it to yourself to
check your status. And once you know, share with somebody and do the other necessary
tests to begin your treatment if need be. Here am focusing on when you are
found positive.
Confide in someone. Seek guidance and treatment. And it is
also good to let your sexual partner(s) know about your status. We still have
people that will keep such information in confidence. And we have a lot of
treatment options.
When it comes to diseases like Malaria, flu and the likes,
we announce to the world even before being asked. And these are deadlier than
being positive. The virus can be managed to prevent it maturing to life
threatening conditions.
Do not think too much about what people will say of you,
rather think of how helpful the good ones will be. A friend that knows your
status will be a great buddy to you. S/he will be in a better position to
support you than if s/he does not know.
The good thing is no matter how many people get to know, get
to say bad about you, the power to have a positive mindset is all vested in
you. When you find yourself in such a condition, think of it as a time to
restart your life with positive lifestyle.
Whether you hide or not, at the end of the day, you are the
only person who will feel the impact of not getting support or treatment on
time.
I have lost many friends because they just could not accept
that their status was positive. They kept on lying to themselves that the
results were fake, continued putting their lives at greater risk, never sought
treatment and worse of all put the blame on jealous by others. Witchcraft is
what most claim.
Love yourself, Stop self-stigmatization. You have a lot to
live for.
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