Lady Zama was a 35-year-old woman who had been living with HIV/AIDS for fifteen years. She found out she was infected when she was pregnant with her first daughter at 20 years old.
Her fifteen-year-old daughter Mpumi was now ashamed of her mother’s status and that she joined campaigns where she encouraged people to live stigma-free and healthily. It was hard for her to accept that her mother was coming to her school Lethuli Primary School in Daveyton to raise awareness around HIV/AIDS and encourage pupils to consider getting tested.
It was Tuesday morning at assembly and all pupils were interested to hear out their guest speaker for the day. Mpumi was teary that the whole school was going to know her mother’s status. Lady Zama was warmly welcomed by the principal and she greeted everyone school by starting with a prayer.
She then called Mpumi, who was doing Grade 10, to come stand next to her. Mpumi tried to avoid her mother and looked down hoping she didn’t call her again. But her mother insisted because she wanted to show everyone in the school that they can survive HIV/AIDS.
Mpumi pushed her way to the front and stood next to her mother. Pupils started laughing and making jokes as she ascended the stage. The principal kept the children quiet and told them to listen to the guest. Lady Zama was now trying to hold her tears back, but she couldn’t because she realised how far she had come. One of the teachers hugged her, gave her a glass of water and a wiper. She was relieved and then started her speech.
“I’m here to tell you that it is possible to live with HIV/AIDS. I was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS when I was pregnant with my daughter Mpumi fifteen years ago. She is now standing next to me and is as healthy as they get!” Lady Zama said, asking Mpumi to confirm her age and she did.
The children were shocked to hear Lady Zama’s status. Mpumi’s friends feared that they could be HIV positive cos they hung around her, little did they know that Mpumi was actually negative and HIV wasn’t airborne. The virus wasn’t transmitted through sharing spaces with someone who could be positive.
Her mother felt relieved that Mpumi had learnt to be courageous. Children after then went home cautions and aware about HIV/AIDS and wanting to be safe from contracting it.
Mpumi and her mother got home and they went to bed early since they stood for hours at school.
It was now Wednesday morning, and everyone in Lethuli High School woke up feeling motivated and inspired by Lady Zama’s courageous story. Mpumi also roamed around the school freely as the pupils had now learnt that they shouldn’t discriminate against her for her mother’s status.
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