Class Discussion

We had a discussion this week about what we had been learning from our host families. We wanted to know, specifically, if they had any thoughts or connections with HIV/AIDS. Katie stated that her family said that people are now stealing ARVs from hospitals, pharmacies, and infected people who really need them and using them as recreational drugs. Apparently people are taking the flint out of a light bulb, crushing up the pills in it, and smoking them to get high. This was really shocking to me. It really highlights the importance of education on the subject of HIV/AIDS. It was only a year ago that South Africa was able to obtain ARVs for everyone who needs them, and if people are using them for recreational use, that is a huge step back for the fight against HIV.

Edwin, the reverend at J.L. Zwane joined our conversation to give us some of his thoughts and experiences with HIV/AIDS in the community. He confirmed what Katie said about the recreational use, and said this is something that is just starting to happen. Edwin then shared with us that those who are infected with HIV are getting medical aide from the government in order to support their families, and he says that people are now purposely infecting themselves in order to get financial support from the government as well. I think this is really sad, because people are not understanding the extent of this disease - as of today, HIV is a death sentence and it is terrible that people feel that it is the only way their family can survive is to be infected. 

The next story Edwin told us will stick in my brain forever. He told us the impact of HIV of children. He knew of schools where the kids would steal the teacher's keys after class and lock themselves in her classroom to have sex. The teacher was too short to see into the classroom window and was always confused why her keys went missing so often. She ran into another teacher who was slightly taller and saw into the classroom what was going on. Edwin says that kids are having sex by 4th and 5th grade and he has heard of kids performing sexual favors to each other to get people to do their homework for them. When we asked Edwin how the kids even knew about sex he stated that the township homes are close together and small. Some have no doors or windows and people can see into them. Also, some homes only have one bedroom for the parents and the children to share so they see their parents doing it right in front of them. Finally, the kids are exposed to rape and abuse all the time, so they don't know any better.

Finally, Edwin shared with us a story about a 9 year old boy he knew. He was living with his uncle because his parents had passed away and his uncle's girlfriend would use him for sex and sell him on the street as a sex object for money. He contracted HIV through this process and was finally sent to live somewhere safe. At the safe-house he was raped by the other boys and infected two other boys there. This is the youngest child Edwin has seen to be infected by HIV through sexual encounters. 

Hearing these stories was both sad and infuriating for me. I felt sad because people don't know any better because they have not been properly education on HIV and end up in terrible environments. I am infuriated because things like this happens to kids because adults are irresponsible. Maybe it is because they aren't educated on the subject of HIV, but I feel that it just just common sense not to use a child for sex...I don't know; maybe it isn't such common sense there.