WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2008-02-13 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
Zinhle “Zinny” Thabethe has a voice that moves audiences to tears, enormous hope for the future and HIV and Aids.
As a front-line activist in South Africa, she provides medicine and counselling to those afflicted with HIV, and mentors other counsellors who educate and train Aids patients. But beyond distributing tangible treatment, Thabethe shares something she believes equally valuable hope.
She is one of the lead vocalists in the Sinikithemba Choir, an internationally-acclaimed HIV-positive vocal ensemble whose name translates to “We give hope”.
The choir started with patients from a support group at the Sinikithemba Centre, a clinic that provided care even before Aids treatment was available.
“I joined,” she explains, “after becoming a patient there in 2002”.
The choir’s powerful blend of traditional Zulu and gospel music puts a human face on a condition surrounded by stigma.
Thabethe says: “By living and performing publicly as HIV-positive people, we show that Aids can be a controllable, treatable disease. People can live productively, positively and be happy for the moments they have.
“That hope has been so important in keeping us going through this difficult journey. All we had were our voices, but that became a way to break down the stigma, help people feel comfortable with who they are, and encourage others to seek help.”
Although born into poverty with few years of formal education, Thabethe has become an eloquent advocate in her own community and abroad. Only about 10 percent of HIV-positive South Africans are receiving antiretroviral drugs.
“When I was first diagnosed,” she remembers, “the doctor told me treatment was not available and I would be dead in less than a year. I felt angry. Who was he to tell me I wasn’t going to make it?”
Even after losing her job and growing so ill she had to crawl from her hut to a pit latrine, Thabethe refused to accept her circumstances.
As one of the fortunate few who ultimately gained access to treatment, she now works tirelessly as a living example that patients from any background can grasp the complexities of their disease and adhere to medication regimes.
“The process of education is very important,” she notes.
“You have to understand HIV, your medication, and what is expected of you as a patient. I felt so much better just having that knowledge.
“That’s why I became a counsellor myself. I tell patients that I may not feel their pain, but I know what they are going through and can help support and guide them.”
Thabethe acknowledges the fine line between outside support and personal responsibility. “I can take you to the treatment clinic, but I cannot drink the medicine for you.
“I’m a strong believer in empowerment. I have always tried to find a way to take responsibility, learn what my options are, discover who can help me, and change my own situation.
“It has to start at a personal level, that’s what I try to instill in the patients I work with.”
Because of the stigma and sheer numbers of people affected, Aids has dramatically changed society, culture, behaviour, and the way people relate to their loved ones.
Explains Thabethe: “Traditionally the whole village would participate in mourning, supporting and helping a family going through difficult times.
“Now, death is everywhere, our cemeteries are full, and virtually every family is affected. So that traditional network of support is gone, sometimes family members don’t even go to the hospitals to claim the bodies of their dead.”
To Thabethe, this transformation highlights the crucial need for organisations and individuals who will bring South Africa’s HIV crisis out of the shadows and support those afflicted.
“I know many people are going through what I go through every day,” she reflects.
“Only by being open and asking for help will we know that we are not alone. If you have someone who will walk the journey with you, it is always easier.”