VCT and re-testing

Author: Dr KA Olowu
Date: 19 September

Just a reminder: Only one question was posed to Lucky phrased as follows: Do you know your status? It was followed by the murmuring. It was not intended to get him to reveal his status. Just to be sure he knows it! Unfortunately, most people in class understood it the way you probably did; that I was probing to know his status. That is the probable reason for the murmuring.

Having said that, let us now assume I was actually asking to see if he was willing to reveal his status. Being a champion for HIV in many ways and affecting many lives, do you really think it should be a huge task for Lucky to reveal his own status? I am not sure what training he has received but I make bold to say an HIV ambassador of his status ought to be living openly with his status. In fact, the role he is playing in that drama is better played by someone living openly with HIV. Imagine the implications of this to other PLWA.

Living openly with HIV and not being ashamed of it is the next big step after VCT. How else can we help de-stigmatise HIV? We will all be labelled hypocritical if we think we can win this fight without coming out into the open with our status!

I am convinced that Lucky is a star, a hero. It is time for us to move on to the next level in this fight after VCT: the open declaration of one’s status. I agree it is completely voluntary, but it needs to start with those of us who are at the forefront of the fight. In this way we can be certain that in the years to come, the stigma around HIV will abate!

What Professor and the team from the Africa Centre did in the Sunday Times is commendable. The challenge remains for them to declare their status.VCT should be compared to going to sea. Openly declaring status is the actual sailing. Just my thoughts, as usual!
Ayo.

Author: Unknown (in reply)
Date: 19 September

This is a frank and a nice exchange of ideas. As you are correctly saying we understood you that way and were therefore right in our murmuring, for we thought it was unprofessional of you to ask him in the way we thought you were asking. I agree with you wholeheartedly that we must encourage VCT and we must be ambassadors by example. But the principle of freedom must be left to the individual. In principle, I however agree with you. Thank you for the exchange of ideas.

As you may know, I work closely with PLWHA, as a priest. People are beginning to make known the facts about HIV/AIDS deaths. At funerals of people who died as a result of HIV/AIDS, we see banners with the words "BEWARE AIDS KILLS". This, to me, is a step in the right direction, where nobody forces revelation of the cause of death. May I dare say that people at such funerals request that a priest mentions HIV/AIDS to be the cause of death. I do believe that this is an indication of people’s confidence and their commitment in the fight against the pandemic. Thank you once again.

Author: Miss GP Mothowaeng
Date: 19 September

Thank you for your contributions Ayo.

I am of the opinion that even though we need to encourage everyone to know their status, the freedom to test should remain with the individual. Even if you do not want to admit it, asking him about whether he knows his status in front of close to 300 people was inappropriate and inconsiderate. He is just portraying the character of Lucky and has his own personality. Given these two roles you cannot justify your question. Besides, if you had a good intention to help Lucky reveal his status, you should have made it as a suggestion and not as a direct question in front of us all. Then it would be up to him to live openly with his status. This should not be primarily based on the fact that he is playing Lucky, but on his personal choice. He plays Lucky only on stage, and a large amount of his time is spent in the community. Together with his mentor, he is the one who decides whether or not to reveal his status. This is my opinion.
Gase.

Author: Dr KA Olowu
Date: 19 September 2007

Hello Gase and thank you for your contibution.

I agree with you to a large extent. The day will come when men and women will no longer be ashamed to talk about their HIV status, even in front of a crowd of people. It is not far from now.
Lucky will soon realise that the life he lives in the drama that affects other people's lives is better lived in real life in his community! Mark these words.
Thanks again.
Ayo

Author: Miss NM Nkatsu
Date: 19 September 2007

The post test clubs help people to come out with their status, but I am concerned about it being a shame to be HIV negative. It seems to be difficult for people to reveal their status in public if negative, as our focus is mainly on those who test positive. I would like us to focus more on the HIV negative individuals. They also need support to keep their status for life. Or perhaps we are discriminating …

Author: Unknown
Well done Professor and the rest of the staff. I recognised everyone from the photo and was proud to be associated with Stellenbosch University and the PDM programme. PDM students: Let’s take up the challenge. By the way, those who were tested years back need to re-test, how often should the test be repeated, yearly?

Author: Miss NM NKatsu
Date: 19 September 2007

I strongly agree: Those who know their statuses need to re-test again and again and again yearly.

More messages

General
VCT and re-testing
Death certificates and HIV/AIDS insurance