If I kept it to myself - World YWCA

If I kept it to myself
Sophie Dilmitis
It was important to ensure that no one would go
through this terrifying period of desperate uncertainty
and stress that I went through.
I am now 30 years old and have been living with
HIV for 12 years. In 1999, receiving an HIVpositive
diagnosis was like receiving a death
sentence. The complete lack of information
and knowledge available left me ready to give
up. It was only with strong family support that
I gathered information on HIV and AIDS. I
communicated with specialists all over the world,
read every publication available and spoke to
every experienced HIV-positive person I could
speak to.
It was important to ensure that no one would
go through this terrifying period of desperate
uncertainty and stress that I went through.
Although I was spreading the information
collected on a one to one basis with other newly
diagnosed patients through my doctor, it was
clear, that this was not enough.
Attending the 13th International AIDS conference
in Durban 2000 changed my life. The information
I received from the lecturers and HIV positive
people, the positive attitudes and the vast
information which suddenly became available,
sent me back to Zimbabwe with an enthusiasm
to take up this challenge, in an open and public
manner, breaking the silence that surrounds HIV
and AIDS.
I disclosed my status with a series of
newspaper articles and radio interviews,
tackling a section of the Zimbabwean
community, which was being neglected by
the overworked AIDS prevention groups
(themselves struggling to stay afloat in the tide
that has hit this country). Apart from giving
talks to support groups, management and staff
of many companies, I began talking to school
74
children and the response was incredible with
more and more schools asking me to address
their children, class by class.
Following many recommendations and
discussions, in February 2002, Choose Life was
registered, according to the laws in Zimbabwe as
The Choose Life Trust.
To date, the organisation has spoken with
over 7000 young people and implemented
programmes in over 29 schools throughout
Zimbabwe.
Choose Life is affiliated to other organisations
that deal with HIV-positive youths directly. Most of
it’s work is in schools with young people who do
not know their HIV status.
Choose Life’s goal is to live in an environment
that nurtures and protects young people, with
the hope that they will have accurate information
about their sexual and reproductive health and
rights. All young people should be able to protect
themselves against HIV infection and have
information on all issues relating to HIV and
AIDS.
Through education, knowledge can be passed
on, thereby conquering the fear, ignorance and
silence that surround HIV and AIDS. Knowledge,
accompanied by young people talking about
changing their behaviour and receiving support
from their community institutions can make a
difference. Choose Life hopes to reinforce and
support the process of change that all young
people have to go through if they want to take
responsibility for their actions and live healthy
positive lives, irrespective of their HIV status.