adminCatherine Murombedzi HIV Column
TODAY due to technological advancement children are more informed on generally most aspects of life that their age mates during our teens were not aware of.Armed with the knowledge a child aged 16 or below can decide to find out more on the topic. In Zimbabwe, being under 16 means one needs parental consent in order to seek certain medical assistance.
One young man aged 20 gave a touching story. For need to protect his identity, I will call him Max. Max lost his parents when he was five. He grew up under the care of his maternal grandmother. He was a sickling and his grandma used to give him home remedies.
“I grew up under the care of my maternal grandmother in Mufakose and was loved. The only challenge was that I was sick most of the time and my grandmother used to give me antibiotics from her medical chest of herbal remedies.
“She never liked the idea of taking me to the clinic because during one of the visits when I was very ill with a stubborn cough the nursing sister had asked my history and on being told that I was orphaned at five she suggested I be tested for HIV.
“My grandmother promised to come back the next day after consulting my grandfather, but we never went to the clinic again,” said Max speaking to a media workshop in Chinhoyi last year.
Max said he would hear whispers between his grandparents and heard that no one was comfortable with him being tested for HIV.
“My grandmother used to swear that I would not be tested since she had better herbs to treat me. She said her Max did not have Aids (that is what she called it) and this talk behind closed doors led me to ask more on Aids and since I was now in Form One, I used to read so much literature on HIV,” said Max.
Max suspected that he was HIV positive since he got many infections.
“I suspected that I could have been born HIV positive. My parents had lost their first child before me and they had died when I was aged five.
“This got me thinking and listening to the radio and television I knew that I had to get tested. I could not ask my grandmother. I knew she did not want me to be HIV positive, so her prayer was that I never get tested,” said Max.
Max went to the local clinic where on being asked how old he was, he lied.
“I knew that if one is not 16 years old and above, one needs parental consent. My grandmother would not hear of that. So when the nurse asked how old I was I lied that I was 17. I was only 15 then, but at least it gave me peace of mind. I needed confirmation, but I knew I was HIV positive.
“I was counselled before the test and then after. I tested HIV positive and I told the nurse that I knew it. My parents had died more than a decade ago. She was sympathetic and referred me to an organisation that cared for the young who were born HIV positive,” said Max.
“I received further knowledge at the clinic before they started me on ARVs,” he said.
Max’s second home became AFRICAID, also known as Zvandiri positive.
“I came into the love of Mai Tadiwa (Nicola Willis) who hosted several other children like me. We met on certain days and she made sure we eat properly. I was not alone. I learnt how to dance in a storm and here I am today, a peer counsellor in my community,” ended Max.
Charles Siwela, national director of Youth Engage, spoke on the obstacles.
“There are many obstacles which prevent young Zimbabweans from accessing ART and being below 16 is one of them.
“I believe every child who is capable of forming his or her views is old enough to act on matters affecting him or her. If aged 16 and need medical services they should be granted,” said Siwela.
As seen in Max’s case, he saved his life because no parental consent was forthcoming.
Online Reporter