Come out and conquer Aids: A story of courage
When Mbulelo Dyasi came face to face with HIV, he didn't run: he faced it head-on. Now the Masimanyane-trained EC Aids Ambassador urges other HIV-positive people, especially men, to come forward and stand up to the virus.
By Andrea Jonker-Bryce Roadshows, campaigns, awareness-raising … they're only going to work once HIV-positive people, especially males, come out and reveal their HIV status, says Mbulelo Dyasi, Eastern Cape Aids Ambassador.
Once they do this, says the HIV-positive EC Aids Council mouthpiece, the virus – more visible and less cowardly – can be conquered. The spread can stop. The support can strengthen. And treatment can begin.
 Born and raised in Ilitha Township near the tiny town of Berlin in the Eastern Cape, Mbulelo showed an interest in gender issues from as early as high school. With dreams of a career in international peace politics, Mbulelo naturally veered towards workshops and discussions on human rights and equality.
He found himself at Masimanyane-organised workshops on domestic violence, human rights, gender equality and HIV/Aids at school, and continued training with Masimanyane after matric.
“I have had a personal relationship with Masimanyane ever since,” he says.
When Mbulelo married in 2003, he was working for Umtapo Centre in Durban, a partner of Masimanyane dealing with peace and anti-racism education. In the same year, he contracted the HI virus, and returned to the Masimanyane headquarters in East London for counselling and advice.
“Masimanyane supported me unconditionally,” he says. “HIV was another challenge in my life. Masimanyane started to use me after I disclosed my status, because they were involved in many exciting programmes regarding HIV.
“I was at first appointed by community-based local development agencies, and then later by the EC Aids Council, as Aids Ambassador. I am now the face of HIV in the province. I remarried, and my wife Chumisa – who is also HIV-positive – and I work together in the fight against Aids in the Eastern Cape.”
Surrounded by support, he says, he faced HIV head-on, never suffering much, and never identifying himself by his status. “I am Mbulelo – I am not Aids,” he says.
This is why, he explains, he was nominated for the International Visitors Programme in the United States. Mbulelo attended meetings from Washington DC to Albany in the state of New York, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta in Georgia, and Virginia. He met Federal Government policy makers, NGOs, and people living with HIV.
“That was my interest,” he says, “because in the US there are people who have been living with the virus for 20 years – people on treatment, ARVs, and know how to live with HIV longer. I wanted to know how to live longer.”
He met government department representatives, finding out how they implemented their policies. He visited hospitals to see their facilities, programmes related to HIV, support groups, how they did things to support people living with HIV-Aids.
“What surprised me is that people there living with HIV are leaders. They are university professors, they are people leading HIV programmes – unlike here where so many HIV-positive people just attend meetings and listen to talks. There, they are involved. They are making a difference, taking the lead.”
While the US were more advanced in terms of HIV treatment and counselling, though, Mbulelo found his own home province to be ahead when it came to mobilising people, and in multi-sectoral responses and approaches.
Mbulelo, also a member of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and National Association of People Living with Aids (Napwa), now uses those experiences to make a difference in the Eastern Cape, through newspaper columns in EC Voice and Izimvo, and through motivational talks. He leads by example by pledging publically “not to infect others”, hoping others will follow.
Speak to Mbulelo by emailing him on aids.ambassador@yahoo.com, or phone him on 073 753 5866. |
Letter of thanks
Judith Silwana works in the Diocesan Social Responsibility Project of the Anglican Diocese in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Trained by Masimanyane Women's Support Centre, Judith was one of 11 people nominated by Masimanyane to attend the International Visitors Programme in the US from July to August 2008.
She wrote this letter to Masimanyane executive director Dr Lesley Ann Foster while still on the programme in the US.
My dear Les
I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to say these few words. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity that I don't even deserve. Sometimes I don't know how to use the right words to express myself.
The programme I am in is an NGO management programme with lawyers and doctors. It has good learning opportunities and excellent exposure.
I was appointed out of 19 countries to be on a panel and be a speaker. It was amazing that a criterion was that the person had to be able to speak English clearly – and as you know I have a very boring accent! There were other women who are on women's programmes, and know Cedaw.
I felt that rather than speak about my own programme, I owed Masimanyane, and so spoke about Masimanyane and the impact it has on the development of women.
I also spoke on a panel in Oregon about the impact of HIV-Aids on women, and the role of networking between the church and Masimanyane.
It was so amazing – after that I was invited by a group from the University of Georgia in Atlanta. They wanted me to come after the programme, and they were willing to pay my travel and my accommodation for two or three days in the US, but the Embassy was very strict on that so I didn't win.
I am still learning but I'm hoping that when I'm back we can meet soon and share. Today we met a lawyer who is a volunteer for women. In my group we have a prosecutor and another lawyer – both women. They know nothing about CEDAW and the shadow reports.
In the group there is a woman from Oman, one of the Arabian countries, who knows about CEDAW – we work together in asking questions and spreading the message. This programme is very good for me. Enkosi. (Thank you.)
May God give you more strength and the desires of your heart, give my love to everybody.
Yours in development
Judy |
