From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: ZIMBABWE: SOCIETY SHUNNING AIDS PAT
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Gagme Public Access UNIX, Chicago, Illinois.
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 14:12:45 GMT

Area: Opecna Morning Transmission
Reference: Third World Dvpmnt
Title: ZIMBABWE: SOCIETY SHUNNING AIDS PATIENTS


an inter press service feature

by andrew zhakata

chimanimani, zimbabwe, aug 19 (ips) -- maria samambo, a 30
year-old former barmaid is dying of aids and is now a social
outcast.

''i am now isolated and lonely because family members,
friends and relatives deserted me when they learnt that i had
aids. i am now staying with my uncle'', says samambo at hlabiso
village in chimanimani district, about 500kms east of zimbabwe's
capital, harare.

once an attractive and vivacious woman judging by her
photograph album from a more carefree past, aids (acquired
immune deficiency syndrome) has transformed samambo into an
emaciated shell of her former self. the voice has faded to a
rasp.

''i am living in permanent pain. i am dying slowly and
painfully. i am lethargic and have a terrible loss of
appetite'', samambo told ips as tears rolled down her parched,
sunken cheeks.

samambo was diagnosed of the disease at a hospital in mutare
town, east of harare in march last year. she had gone to the
hospital to seek treatment for diarrhoea and a headache which
had afflicted her for a week.

''at the hospital where i was eventually admitted, i did not
get any support from the medical personnel. nurses used to tell
us horror stories about death. because of this i asked for a
discharge and had to go to my uncle's home since my parents had
abandoned me'', says samambo.

samambo who was discharged from the hospital in february this
year, was not making much money as a barmaid at a local hotel.

''the 150 (30 u.s dollars) i was earning per month was not
enough for me and my two children. as a result, i resorted to
prostitution to supplement the meagre salary'', explains
samambo, a divorcee who has now lost her job.

her clients had included truckdrivers, taxidrivers and
tourists who used to book at the hotel.

samambo is one of thousands of aids sufferers who have been
isolated by family members and friends.

petros muchadziya, hlabiso village headmen, says most people
in the area were reluctant to take in relatives with aids.
(more/ips)


zimbabwe: society (2)

''i know of many people who have been thrown out by their
families because of aids. some think that if they live with aids
victims they might be infected so they want to keep their
distance'', muchadziya admits.

four years ago, in manicaland province under which
chimanimani falls, an organisation called family aids care trust
(fact) was formed to counsel aids patients and encourage people
not to shun them.

dr geoff foster, director of fact who is also a paediatrician
at mutare general hospital, says several campaigns had been
launched in the area to eduate the people about the causes of
aids and to dispel myths about the disease, but with little
success.

''many people are still isolating relatives suffering from
aids. fact is receiving an average of five reports a week of
people who have been abandoned by their families because of the
disease and we are planning to intensify our campaigns'', foster
told ips.

manicaland which has a population of over one million, has in
the past two years lost more than 150 people through aids.
at present the province has about 1,200 confirmed aids cases.

with 14,000 confirmed aids cases nation-wide, zimbabwe is
slowly becoming aware of the dangers of the killer disease, but,
sadly, no significant efforts have been made to encourage the
public not to isolate the victims.

''zimbabwe is now faced with the daunting task of halting
infection, helping distraught victims deal with the disease and
persuading society to avoid instilling guilt in people with
aids'', says dr timoth stamps, minister of health.

apart from aids patients who have been abandoned by family
members, many workers have also been retrenched when diagnosed
human imuno deficiency virus (hiv) positive.

dr stamps says his ministry through its national aids control
programme will continue the fight against the epidemic by
counselling medical personnel, family members, social clubs,
church groups and employers.

the zimbabwe red cross society has already started home-care
programmes in five areas in harare to give support to aids
patients and their families while roman catholic nuns have
established a sanctuary, mashambanzou, for the hiv infected.

''most people in zimbabwe still shun aids victim and only a
radical daparture from this negative trend could help control
the disease'', says sister mary at mashambanzou.
(end/ips/az/oa/92)



-- 
Aaron (Barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us) -- posting from Evanston, Illinois
Newsgroups: apc.reg.safrica,soc.culture.african,sanet.talk.politics