"Access to treatment is access to life"
How Bonani in Zimbabwe is fighting stigma and discrimination to HIV and AIDS
Like many young people growing up in sub-Saharan Africa, Bonani聽has lost family and friends聽to聽HIV and AIDS.聽For the last eight years he鈥檚 been speaking out and encouraging others to join the聽fight in聽tackling the epidemic.
Growing up in Zimbabwe in the 1980鈥檚, Bonani lost many of his childhood friends and family members to AIDS. He could see clearly the stigma and discrimination that surrounded the disease, which was demonstrated at the 鈥楢nti-AIDS鈥� clubs formed at his school. However, it wasn鈥檛 until his popular brother T.J. and his wife fell ill to AIDS that Bonani more personally experienced the stigma and discrimination the local community, and even close family, demonstrated to Bonani鈥檚 brother. The lack of understanding surrounding HIV and AIDS meant that a devastating conflict erupted between T.J. and his wife, both arguing that the other brought the virus into their home.聽
Lack of support and love
Both T.J. and his wife sadly passed away in 2004 leaving behind their three children. To this day Bonani blames the lack of support and love, as much as the lack of medical care, for his brother鈥檚 death. This highlights the role that lack of knowledge and understanding on HIV and AIDS causes, and the damage this alone can do.
Natasha, T.J.鈥檚 third child, was only 18 months old when聽she lost her father. A few months after聽T.J.鈥檚 death, she also fell ill and was tested positive for HIV. Natasha is now a healthy聽7 year-old who often聽has to聽take antibiotics to starve off opportunistic infections. Bonani can鈥檛 help but wonder why a聽child聽is thinking about聽the right medication rather than playing with her friends; that she is thinking about a timetable of drugs not school work. As Bonani currently cares for his brother鈥檚 3 children, he sees the importance of quality easy-to-take paediatric drugs, and the difference this can have on a child鈥檚 life.
Bonani joined Restless Development in order to take action against the lack of available treatment and drugs for people living with HIV. 鈥淎ccess to treatment is access to life鈥� Bonani states. Bonani has been involved with Restless Development for聽eight years, starting as a volunteer and now as an Assistant Programme Coordinator.
Unite to Fight AIDS speaker tour
Bonani聽has been touring universities and schools in the UK as part of the Student Stop AIDS Campaign speaker tour, powered by Restless Development.聽The tour聽brings the voices of three young people affected by HIV or AIDS from across the world to talk first-hand about why tackling the spread of AIDS is so essential.