(This
article is an Interview session held with a Lady in Botswana who is infected
with HIV but is today a Successful Sexual Morality Counselor)
Can we meet you (tell us a little
about your background)
My name is Tebatso V. M. I am a
young lady of 24 years of age. I am a Motswana, born here in Botswana, in
Mochudi village. We are four in my family (my mother, step-dad, younger brother
and me).I was raised up by my grandmother. I have diploma in Association of
Accounting Technicians (AAT) Course. And I have volunteered in a youth
non-organisation called "YOUTH AGAINST ACCIDENTS",
Have
you ever suffered Sexual Abuse?
Yes. When I was young (10 years of
age), my step-grandfather would always want to have sex with me more especially
when my grandmother was not around. I didn’t know anything by then. When my
mother advised me, it was already too late. I remember one day when I was
sweeping in our house, I was about 12years of age, I saw a piece of paper
saying that my step-grandfather died because of HIV/AIDS; right there I knew
that I was infected. So when I was 18 years of age, about to finish at high
school, I got affected by herpes on the face and immediately I went to the
hospital and they told me it’s for people who are infected by HIV. I got home, then
I told my mother and she came and we went for HIV tests, then I found out that
I was HIV positive. So as we speak, I am on ARVs-HIV treatment.
When where you first taught about
sex?
I was first taught about sex when I
was at my primary level doing standard 6
When you
find out you were HIV positive how did you first react to it?
When I first found out that I was
HIV positive, I became so depressed and suicidal
What are the emotional traumas you
suffered as a result of the issue?
I felt so unloved, rejected, anger, tried
to commit suicide (woke up in the hospital), been to Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital...now
am here, it is only by the grace of God.
Have you face any embarrassment as a
result of your condition?
Being HIV positive and being on ARVs
are the embarrassments of my life.
There is a high level of HIV
affection in Botswana, What would you say is the cause?
Unprotected sex and Drugs and
alcohol abuse.
How did you overcome the emotional
traumas of your issue?
Being closer to God, and going to
church every service for learning, upliftment and revival.
What lessons have you learnt from
being an HIV victim?
Any person can be affected with HIV.
How can an HIV victim live a normal life?
Being HIV positive doesn’t stop you
from living your normal life. 1. Carry out activities one who is not HIV would
carry. 2. Socializing 3. Eating healthy foods e.g. vegetables 4. Accepting
their HIV status.
What advice do you have for other HIV Victims?
They should allow God to be their
comfort more than anyone in this world! Allows pouring out their hearts to Him!
He is the best friend we can ever have! He has been my pillar of strength! I
would cry to Him and he would comfort me! Trust God, His Word and prayer!
Can a person have sex with HIV
person and not contact the virus?
A person has high chances of contracting
HIV when having sex without protection with an infected person. A person has
small chances of being infected when having sex with an HIV victim with
protection.
How can you help other HIV victims
for them to live a normal life?
I would first advice them to trust
God and attend church regularly for revival and upliftment! I would create some
activities that they will be part of like retreats/get together or any
activities whereby they can have fun-we come together and plan what we would
like to do!-maybe twice in a month. *I would create a group whereby we come
together and just talk about everything and advice each other! We pray for each
other! - may 4/6 times a month! *We participate in other community
groups/activities like help the orphanages etc.
What is the advice that you will
give to youth who is being sexual abuse?
They should speak out and seek help
from parents/teachers/neighbors. They shouldn’t keep quite no matter so that
the matter could be address before hand!
What advice would you give to youth
who are currently engage in sexual immorality?
Sexual immorality (sin) is one of
the things that hinder God from blessing us. God in His word says that our
bodies are the temple of God and we should present our bodies holy and
acceptable to God, so sexual immorality pollute and contaminate our bodies or
souls because when we commit sexual immorality our souls become tied to those
we sin with-we will then start to carry the burdens/loads of that persons. So
as youth, we must choose sexual purity and enjoy the blessings, peace, freedom
that sexual purity brings! Sexual immorality separate family (disunite the
family) its true because one will always want to be with that person he/she
commit sexual immorality with no matter what! Even at school, we will choose
sexual immorality over our studies, that is, we will not stay focused and committed
to our studies and this will lead to failure! Pregnancy, abortion, school dropout,
stagnancy are all some consequences of sexual immorality! Renew your youth and
choose sexual purity!
