If I kept it to myself - World YWCA

Young women intervene in a world with AIDS
Mwelwa Chibuye
I believe that one can do wonders even if you are HIV
positive.
I tested HIV positive in 1999, when I was 19-
years-old, and went into denial for almost three
years. Upon noticing that a number of my close
friends and relatives were dying from AIDS
related illnesses, it triggered me to do something
about my situation.
I became interested in working in HIV when
I realised that my life could still be full and
meaningful and that I had the potential to
contribute positively to interventions against HIV
and AIDS.
I told my bishop at church about my status and
asked him if I could disclose my HIV status to the
rest of the congregation. He was not for the idea.
Instead he assured me that we could pray God to
heal me. When Sunday came I was determined
to disclose because I knew I was doing the right
thing and it would help many who might be in
denial like I was before. I also wanted to convey
that HIV does not care whether one is a born
again Christian. If one indulges in unprotected
sex and does not stick to one sexual partner
who is aware of their status, one is at risk of
contracting the virus. So I disclosed and almost
everybody was shocked, as they did not expect
me to be HIV positive because I was normal and
participating in church activities. That was my first
experience in the line of HIV work.
HIV and AIDS has since become my life,
especially in the area of positive living. I believe
that one can do wonders even if you are
HIV positive. Having gone through a difficult
upbringing I still managed to live positively and
of course not forgetting what the Network of
Zambian people living with HIV and AIDS (NZP+)
has done by building my capacity.
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