FAMILY SECRETS
HIV is that you have to get into the sexual aspects to explain it clearly, and I'd rather wait until he's older and get professional help from people at
Body & Soul to tell him."
Other African clients at Body & Soul say that although it is commonplace
to talk about Aids and HIV openly back home in their countries of origin,
it is still something that has to be kept quiet here. This causes further
confusion in the home.
Georgina, who has a teenage daughter - both use Body & Soul - remembers
how her daughter and some friends discovered her HIV drugs one afternoon.
One of the friends was studying to be a nurse and was very inquisitive
about the pills. Her daughter didn't know what to say. She told her mum
about the incident and Georgina feels she must now be more discreet with
her pills so as to avoid any unnecessary questions.
There are other issues of confidentiality around childcare.
Ruth Webb, chairman of the UKC (PosNation's owners), is a mother of two
young girls and lives outside London. She says:
"I'm in something of a unique position in that I don't live in London
but most of my childcare needs are in London. I don't go out of my way
to tell the childminder that I have HIV but neither do I hide it. However
at home I don't tell the childminder - we have a regular one. It isn't
something I consider relevant since both my girls are negative. I don't
think I feel any need for special help here."
page 6 of 7
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Paula Harrowing, who runs Body & Soul, has bleak words to say about the
