'no way home'
page 1 of 3
contents
of issue 79
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I was sitting waiting for a bus when I saw a client of mine pushing her
child in a pram. She was talking to herself, in that way you know is not
a sign of happiness at least, and sometimes a sign of madness. I asked
her where she was going. She said, "I just don't know." In the
few minutes I spent with her, she opened up a load of problems she had
only been able to share with her baby and herself.
Yes, Africans with HIV have many issues to deal with. Housing, immigration,
illness, treatments and racism, to name a few. But most detrimental to
the wellbeing of clients and friends living with HIV is the psychological
burden of all those things piled on top of the virus.
Trying to raise a child on your own, unemployment, lack of acceptance
by your family and community, lack of a soul-mate, bad housing, bad food
and bad debts - well, is it any wonder people struggle?
So many people I know remain unoccupied from the time they get out of
bed to the time they get back in again. The only activity might be taking
medication and answering the phone.
Non-acceptance of HIV status by others is almost universal, in my experience.
People are always telling me or worrying about how their own families
and friends would whisper about their condition, or their 'impending death',
to other people.
Lack of a soulmate or partner - no one to fully trust or pour out your
feelings to. And sex...not guaranteed, especially in winter, where you
have to walk or travel long
distances to negotiate sex or have it. The situation is usually different when you have a partner, as you will be guaranteed 'goodies' and some one will
