Kunene HP; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. TuPeE3960.
H.P. Kunene, 83 Falaise, No 23, Prince Street, Durban 4001, South Africa, Tel.: +27 822 55 6328, Fax: +27 31 368 6414, E-mail: kuenep@ulundi.kzntl.gvt.za
Issues: We are experiencing a lot of people especially young men and women dying after short illness, or after a long illness. A lot are dying from pneumonia, tuberculosis, severe headaches, stomachaches etc. Due to the stigma attached to the disease no one wants to reveal the cause of death. At times the family behind is left in the dark without knowing what was the real cause of death. Mostly, people who are already infected are informed but for fear of victimisation and discrimination, they do not divulge their status, and continue with their life without ever changing their lifestyle. That in the process put a number of people both already infected and those still un-infected at risks. Description: I wrote this paper with an appealing message for those that still think that AIDS is there at a very far distance and it won't happen to them. I have used my experiences to people very close to me whom I have buried due this disease. I hope my experiences will be used by those infected and those affected to draw from these lessons and also that it is not true that people run away from you immediately they know that one is positive. Conclusion: I have avoided using statistics since it makes it appear too academically and a number of people including those educated turn to ignore tables and statistics. I am appealing to change of lifestyles, attitudes and behavior as we are fighting with this disease head-on.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Female
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Male
- Research
- Tuberculosis
Other ID:
UI: 102240065
From Meeting Abstracts