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NAMIBIA: women standing tall despite HIV
– Reported, June 11, 2013
I AM strong. Nobody and nothing can put me down – not even discrimination, not even my HIV status, not those who point fingers, and not even the fact that Im not educated. Im standing tall, knowing that Im beautiful. These are the bold life-affirming words of 27-year-old Helena Nangombe, a survivor of sexual abuse, who has been living positively with HIV for many years.
When someone she once considered as being close repeatedly raped and infected her with the virus, she was just a young girl, barely old enough to understand the responsibilities of life, much less those that come with living in a society that still stigmatises and discriminates against people living with the virus.
Both her parents passed away when she was in Grade 10 and as the eldest child in her household at the time, she had to drop out of school and take on the task of providing for her siblings. She never again had the chance of returning to school for further studies.
Today, as she goes about her daily responsibilities, which include taking care of and providing for her two siblings and a nine-year-old son, she has made it her mission to speak up for the rights of those living with the virus who, out of fear of stigmatisation and discrimination, find it difficult to find their own voice within the society.
Even after so many years of awareness campaigns, people are still hiding their HIV status because of the fear of stigmatisation and discrimination. Most go to hospitals that are very far from where they live because they fear if people in their area learn about their status, they would be discriminated against, she said.
Not one to succumb to fear of stigma and discrimination, Nangombe has discussed living positively with the virus on both local and international stages, and works as an advocate for the rights of people living with HIV and volunteers as a focal person for Namibia Women Health Network and The International Community Women Living with HIV-Aids(ICW).
In May this year Nangombe will once again share the stage with 100 other young leaders from 68 different countries in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after she was chosen from a pool of 6,000 entrants to participate at the Women Deliver 2013 conference. It is one of the decades largest and most influential meetings on girls and womens health and empowerment issues.
In selecting participants, the programme organisers said they considered those inspiring young people under the age of 30 working to build a world where the health and well-being of girls and women is a priority.
Throughout the year, we work in a variety of ways with our selected young leaders to strengthen their skills as advocates, academics, programme staff, media, and social innovators. When young people are equipped with the right tools and information, they are powerful and critical agents of change, the organisers explained.
Selection for this years participants was based on their previous knowledge, skills, and experience as advocates or activists, and their potential to increase their advocacy efforts in their home communities and countries.
Nangombe will be the only participant from Namibia at the conference.
The 27-year-old said she had applied applied to take part in the conference because women are vulnerable to all sorts of abuse, which includes physical and sexual abuse, and adds that she wants to be part and parcel of this womens empowerment opportunity with the hope of coming back to share with other women in her community what she learned.
I have faced discrimination and I have overcome it. I am looking forward to the future. When I come back from the conference, I hope to continue my work as a volunteer in the Namibian Women Child Network to train women and ensure that they are able to speak up for themselves, she said.
She adds that what needs to happen in Namibia is for women and girls to be empowered to stand up for their rights.
I dont say that Ive had an easy life. I had a difficult life. I was raped continuously for five years and I had a lot of anger in me. I went through a lot of counselling and learned that it is good to forgive and let go of all that anger because then it becomes easier for you to go on with your life. Yes, there are days when I wish I wasnt HIV positive, but the fact remains that I cannot change that. What happened, happened at a time when I couldnt help myself as I was very young then, she said.
I hate to listen or read about rape cases because a lot of girls get infected by getting raped by people they know and trust, which is why it is very important for the world to invest in women and girls.Nangombe said she would not be where she was without the support of her family, close friends, sisters and those who continue to be there for her. She said children need to be taught from a young age to report any sexual advances by anyone, whether a relative, or a friend to prevent such rape instances. Nangombe will be presenting two topics at the conference which include Why integration of family planning and HIV services is important for women living with HIV, as well as Sexual and fertility choices and challenges for women living with HIV.
The message I want to communicate is that our lives do not end with HIV. The virus does not stop us from doing anything. We have to take ownership of our own lives. Discrimination is out there and people will keep talking, but that will not change your HIV status. Things like stigma and discrimination are powered by ignorance. What you should concentrate on is that you are a human being and that is all that matters, she said.
CREDITS.
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