On Friday November 20, 2009 I did my first official Public Speaking at the Port Henderson Leadership Seminar. The aim of this Seminar was to educate citizens living inside the community about HIV/AIDS so that they can teach others. We started out with some ice breakers which were fun and so it helped my nervousness.
Even though I was a bit nervous I wasn’t afraid of the task at hand; but I wasn’t prepared for the level of discrimination that was present. I was discriminated before, but nothing like what I saw on display at this event.
The meeting began with a prayer and then there was the ‘HIV/AIDS Basics’ presentation. I was glad that persons were able to gain knowledge about this virus and were able to quell the myth that it was transferred from monkeys to humans. This is one of the most uninformed concepts which are being spurted about the disease.
During this period of the meeting, words like “AIDSY” and opinions such as “persons who are living with AIDS should be placed on an island by themselves” were being said. Tears welled up in my eyes. It was time for ‘Stigma and Discrimination’ where the presenter was trying her best to let the audience know that it is hurtful to stigmatized and discriminated. They still never saw what she was getting across to them.
Then when I realized that nothing that she was telling them would stop the negatives, I got up and introduced myself informing the audience that I was HIV positive. Immediately there was a silence inside the room. A man walked out from the room. Then there was the usual muttering “how comes you are positive and looking so good.” This is when I took them through the stages of my diagnosis; what I went through as well as what I did to overcome the obstacles.
After I talked for about an hour, the man who had walked from the room came back in and listened to what I was saying. I was just being myself in that room, talking about God, my love for my friend Amila and my aspiration of having triplets. (LOL) I encouraged them that having HIV/AIDS was not the end of the world, and that the important tasks for infected persons were to love themselves and still reach for their goals.
The man who had left the room earlier sent an apology to me at the end of the meeting, which I accepted. He said he was sorry to walk from the room; but he was glad that he was able to be there because he would never believe that someone living with the virus would be as happy as I was.
I am thankful to God because it was not me, but Him, that allowed me to be able to go through my presentation; so that these persons left with a positive outlook about living with HIV/AIDS. Although the gathering was a small one, if they practice what was taught then I know the door is partially open to help the fight of stigma and discrimination in Jamaica.
Remember: HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination STOPS with YOU.
BLESSINGS
Posted by ksurrina 
