Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Job 1:20

In the early part of the 1990s, we lost relatives, friends to the HIV/AIDS scourge, people knew less of the virus. The most painful part was the way in which we lost these loved ones. It was traumatic, scary and painful to those infected and affected with the pandemic. The pain of seeing a once functional body full of life dissipating into a small mass of skeletal bones now robbed of life but yet living, was a painful watch and a permanent scar in the minds of many.

When someone was diagnosed of HIV/AIDS it was hard for them, synonymous to a harsh death sentence. Medical science back then had little to non to offer, patients when they deteriorated they were often discharged from the hospital to their homes if they had any, some would go to their relatives homes. The message was subtle but clear, death was imminent. Many who had rural homes and could speak would opt to be carried to these homes to await their death there as they knew that their condition was not going to improve. Many tried in vain to get help from witch-doctors, which would often give them very bitter medicines to take from tree bucks, roots among others. At most of the times they would be told that someone even within the family had bewitched them for wealth or other reasons, which again caused distress and family breakdowns in already suffering families.

It was very common for a person who had HIV/AIDS to have their own pair of blankets, spoon, cup and plates which were not shared by others in fear that persons might get infected by the deadly disease.  On a daily basis persons who were incontinent because of the pandemic could be often be carried to the sun in the morning, during the day they would be taken under the tree for the shade and in the evening they would be taken back in the house where it was warm. Often they would sleep less and always groaning in pain.

Stigma in those years was very high and relatives would hide their sick relative from others so that they as a family may not be stigmatized. People would speak in closed doors how the virus has affected a certain family and at times speak that it would be nearly impossible for that infected person to survive up to Christmas time.

It was a hard time to the sufferer and those loved ones who witnessed the suffering. A painful experience to the memory and humiliating suffering to those infected.

Prosper K Mushauri

Counseling Psychologist