“I never imagined I would be in the situation I found myself in. And I had no idea how I would break the news to my family. Unlike many parents in my community who consider talking about sex as taboo, my parents had spoken to me and my sister about sex and HIV. But how do you tell them: yes…you have educated me and done everything you can to protect me. But.. guess what.. I’m HIV positive? Then there was my boyfriend. How would I tell him and get him to be tested too? My mother just broke down when I told her. My father whose reaction I was most worried about though was surprisingly understanding. He said to me, 'You are in this situation. We can’t turn back the hands of time. And we need to deal with this as a family.'
Today I’m a peer mentor myself. I want the girls I see to have bright futures, be independent, strong. Almost a year ago, I gave birth to a lovely daughter named Sinothando. I am happy to tell you that she was tested for HIV and her results came back negative thanks to U=U. My beautiful little girl is proof that our dream of a generation without HIV can become a reality.”
Mayor's Message
"eThekwini is committed to achieving the goals of the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, and we will work together using a multi-sectoral response to address the health and social issues driving our dual HIV and TB epidemics. Even with the recent challenges posed by COVID-19, we work tirelessly together with all our partners and ensure that we are “focused for impact” in this community. Guarding human rights, eliminating stigma, and empowering communities will help us win the battle."
Cllr Mxolisi Kaunda
Mayor of eThekwini
