CONFERENCE - LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

I have been invited to a Conference which will be held on the 5th and 6th of November at Elangeni Hotel. I'm supposed to give a talk about the 'role of people living with HIV'. I'm extremely excited and nervous at the same time. To know that I will be speaking on the same podium with The Mayor Obed Mlaba and Dr. Zweli Mkhize, my goodness just the thought of that makes me 'shake'. 

I attended this Conference last year and it changed my life. I know it is bound to do the same thing as again. I'll meet people who has been doing these talks for years, and those recently diagnosed. The topic is dear to my heart as it addressed the reasons I have taken on this journey of preaching about the importance of avoiding re-infection. I am worried I may step on someone's toes and offend sensitive listeners, while motivating others. I have always been frustrated knowing that there are re-infections. I strongly believe there is no negative person can infect a positive person. What does that say about positive people? Are they knowingly infecting negative people, or there is no protection or care in the world? For the next few days I have to think deeply about that. 

Re-infections. Once we put away a condom and have unprotected sex, what does that mean, to someone already infected? I have been there and it was not a pretty site. I believe from the start that, it is important to to be open about someone's status. If you love someone that much, you must overcome that fear. The most important fear -- should be getting new infection.

Life is manageable though.   

AND NOW...

This week we did the eleventh episode of the HIVAIDS show on Ukhozi FM. I'm extremely proud. I never even thought it would come to this.
From next week we are going out to the 'people'. I am hoping those will be people living with HIV. When I initially thought about the show, I wanted to give those people a voice. I am a bit disappointed that the majority of them are not coming out. At the same time I am proud that we are creating an awareness and educating people.
I'll be interviewing inmates from a Correctional Services. I am scared, not of them but of what this may do. I don't want to put their lives in danger, by making them disclose too much. But I am also excited since it's hard to break those walls and make people talk. I've always wanted to do that, so why not. Looking forward to it. Tune in, that interview will be a documentary format. I want it to be the best show of these series of shows.
I am looking forward to the next ten shows. I am raising the bar. People are gonna be blown away. By the time we do the tour which I am planning for December, things will be hot. Since I am putting this on paper as such, now I have to do it.
Hold on, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. We gonna talk about things we never talk about. When you thought our show about oral sex was a shocker, you haven't seen anything yet. Love you all.