Young, positive and hopeful

Tinomuda Chakanyuka, Sunday News Reporter
HERS is not a sorry tale, but a beautiful and heartening story of triumph against odds. One not to evoke tears of pity but of joy.

That is the life story of 19-year-old Amanda Batizani of Dulibadzimu suburb in Beitbridge which is worth every droplet of champagne. An inspiration for many teens in her situation.

Born to HIV positive parents in 1997 in Kwekwe, Amanda’s life might have kicked off on a back-foot.

With her father passing on when she was only 11 years, leaving her unemployed mother and young brother, her circumstances couldn’t have been any worse.

Just like most HIV orphans, Amanda grew up at the mercy of ridicule, stigma and discrimination pelted towards her and her family from every facet of society.

Stigma and prejudice followed her from the local play grounds in Mbizo high density suburb in Kwekwe to church and even in school, as society failed to accept her situation.

As if to add salt to injury, Amanda was to later learn that, just like her parents, she too was HIV positive. She was born with the virus.

“I was 15-years-old when I learnt that I was HIV positive. My mother sat me down, opened up to me about my status and explained what it meant.

“When I was young she used to mix my medicine with my food and I would just eat unaware of what was going on and I didn’t ask any questions, although it used to bother me.

“After my mother told me my status she explained to me what the medicine was and that I needed to take it religiously. It is after that when I started taking the treatment on my own,” she told Sunday News.

This, to some extent, devastated her as in her mind the ridicule, stigma and discrimination seemed to escalate. But there was something inside her that spurred her to be steadfast.

She recalls how her grades in school started plummeting as she struggled to come to terms with her situation, particularly the rejection she faced from her playmates and colleagues in school.

“Most people failed to accept me. It got worse when they learnt of my status. This got to me so much that I started struggling in school and my grades went down,” relates Amanda.

After failing to complete her Ordinary Level studies at Mbizo High school in Kwekwe, Amanda, her mother and little brother decided to seek a fresh start and change base.

Her family relocated to Beitbridge last year and indeed the border town offered them a fresh start and more.

The move witnessed manifestation of a fighter in Amanda, a fighter she had always harboured since birth and throughout her growth from toddler to teenager.

Thanks to Lufuno Support Group in the border town, Amanda managed to discover herself among other youths and become a beacon of hope for many youths and adults.

Lufuno is Venda for love.

In typical fashion of “making lemonade when life gives you lemons” Amanda no longer buckles in the face of stigma and discrimination and has gathered the courage to take her situation head-on.

As negative vibe may pile up against her she no longer sees it as a drawback but a pulpit on which she stands to preach the positive message of acceptance.

“It was difficult at first, but when I was introduced to Lufuno Support Group I received enough counselling which helped me not only to accept my state but be open about it.

“Now I stand at public platforms as an example of what it means to live positively and I’m proud of that,” she said.
Amanda is an inspiration to many youths born with the virus and to parents who are HIV positive. Other HIV positive adults may also take a leaf from the book of Amanda’s heartwarming story.

She has scored a hat-trick against stigma and discrimination, a probable lesson that disclosure may as well be the antidote to the scourge of stigma.

Amanda is working as the district youth representative for Lufuno Support Group in Beitbridge and part of her work includes educating youths on HIV issues.

“I move around different places teaching youths about living positively. Because I’ve disclosed my status I feel my message is having positive impact on people I talk to.

“My message is as youths we should accept each other regardless of someone’s status. I also urge youths to go and get tested to know their status.

“It’s important for one to know their status early because if they are negative they take measures to stay negative and if positive one will seek treatment and start living positively,” she said.

When Amanda moved to Beitbridge last year she resumed her education and sat for three O’ Level subjects, English, Commerce and Agriculture and passed two, English and Commerce.

While some in her circumstances may surrender to fate, Amanda has found, in her seemingly difficult situation, an inspiration for a career choice.

She intends to write the remaining subjects to get the requisite subject passes and enrol into nursing school.

“I want to become a nurse, I really love nursing. Right now I’m working on attaining the required subjects then apply for nurses training. I have strong passion for health. Maybe it was motivated by my situation,” she said.

Her ultimate hope is to, one day, be gainfully employed and be able to take care of her mother and young brother who was born HIV negative, thanks to the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme.

Beautiful, gorgeous, vivacious and many of such superlative may slightly fall short of aptly describing Amanda’s looks and persona.

Just like any other budding and beautiful young woman, Amanda attracts attention of suitors, who she said quickly withdraw their interests the moment she discloses her status to them.

Amanda said she is unfazed by this and would continue being honest with whoever asks her out, until she finds her soul mate.

“I also hope to get married and have my own family. Yes I do get men proposing to me but I’ve made it a point that I disclose my status. However, most of them don’t stay long the moment I tell them that.

“Some don’t believe me because when they look at me and see nothing wrong they think I’ll be pulling a gimmick.
“It’s really not an issue. I’m still young and I have a long life ahead of me. For now I have to pursue my studies and I know along the way I will meet someone who will accept me as I am,” she said.

Amanda’s story is one of rising above odds, a tale that inspires hope, motivates tolerance and evokes cheer.

It is testimony that we are all HIV equal and being positive is not the end of the road but may actually be the start of a beautiful journey.

As Zimbabwe takes stock of successes of its HIV intervention programmes, Amanda’s story stands out as a classic example of achievements scored so far.