From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: ZAMBIA: HIV VICTIMS SPEARHEARD ANTI-AIDS CAMPAIGN
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:11:25 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: Third World Dvpmnt
Reference: Third World Dvpmnt
Title: ZAMBIA: HIV VICTIMS SPEARHEARD ANTI-AIDS CAMPAIGN


an inter press service feature

by katongo chisupa

lusaka, sep 21 (ips) -- winston zulu and catherine nyirenda
were the first human imuno deficiency (hiv) positive victims to
go public in zambia, to publicise the threat of aids in this
southern african country.

''we have made aids in zambia look normal and, personally,
going public is the only way you can help yourself'', says
28-year-old winston, who discovered he was hiv-positive in
september 1990.

he had won a scholarship to study political science in the
former soviet union. conditions in the soviet union then
required all foreign students be aids tested. he was found
positive and his plans to study abroad, and at first his life,
fell apart.

''my first reaction was that the first test was wrong, but i
accepted it after the second and third tests'', he told ips.

''i was very worried and afraid, not of death because
everybody is going to die but of failure in life like failing
to qualify on health grounds to study abroad'', winston,
handsome and healthy-looking, notes.

with an extremely strong belief that every problem has a
solution, he went for hiv counselling at kara counselling and
training trust in the zambian capital of lusaka, set up to help
aids victims. he also started writing poems related to hiv and
its impact on the zambian population.

''my problem after i discovered i was hiv was what to do
next. i got interested in talking about aids'', says winston.
last year he began an outreach programme, and won a norwegian
award for his pioneering grassroots work on aids education.

catherine, young and single, is another victim who has gone
public in an attempt to persuade 8.5 million zambians to behave
more responsibly in the face of the aids threat.

''they told me last year in may that i was positive'', says
catherine (21). ''i thought i was going to die immediately
because at first i never understood anybody properly...i did not
know what it was to be positive''.

''it was sad and very difficult for me to accept during the
early days. i started getting sick and losing weight''.

the worst impact was from the family who reacted very badly
and chased her from home. (more/ips)


zambia: hiv (2)

''i ended up staying with a friend. uptil now they seem to
have rejected me although i still visit them'', she explains.

with the difficulties of living in a society that shuns the
victims of aids, she decided to look for work and went to kara
house.

''i started coming here last year to look for employment but
i didn't know the purpose of this place (kara). i told them my
problem and they asked me a lot of questions. i told them the
truth and counselling started'', she told ips at the centre.

she is the only woman with hiv who has done outreach and is
now taking part actively in educating people through the
grassroots kara programme.

in lusaka, she has joined winston's positive and living squad
(pals) he set up aimed at workers here. more than 200 companies
have been targeted in lusaka, and each day the team of seven
visits a different workplaces and for 45 minutes counsels the
employees on safe sex.

catherine has also gone on national television twice and she
takes part in drama aimed to get the message across about the
dangers of aids.

she tries to lead a normal life. she has a boyfriend and they
have sex from time to time: ''but i always tell my boyfriend to
use condoms and i've told him that i am hiv positive'', she
confidently explains. her only complaint is that her sexual
desire has declined over the months.

there are thousands of people walking the streets of zambia,
especially the sexually-active youth, who are hiv positive but
have not come to terms with the fact.

according to the ministry of health, there are about 24,000
reported cases in zambia today. independent analysts suggest
the figure could be much higher.

two members of pals have already died from full-blown aids.
''these deaths have a direct bearing on us in the group but
that is what we have to live with'', winston says.

''i am not scared of dying but frankly speaking i am scared
of the diseases that may invade my body, breaking me down'',
says catherine.

''i am hopeful that one day, there will be a solution to this
problem because what we are doing is a venture based on hope.''
(end/ips/kc/oa