At funerals these days, it is not uncommon to hear that the deceased had been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) but had defaulted on treatment.
There are many reasons why people living with HIV stop taking their medication, and these must be urgently addressed if Zimbabwe and the world are to end Aids as a public health threat by 2030.
When an unpleasant situation persists for years, complacency can sometimes set in. HIV and Aids may no longer dominate public discussions as they once did, but that should not create the impression that the epidemic is under complete control.
The relative silence around HIV is, in part, a result of growing acceptance and the feeling that there is little more to do.
Yet stigma, discrimination and the fears associated with HIV remain, and the fight against them must continue.
Personally, I will not be comfortable for as long as people still find it difficult to disclose their HIV status or take their ART openly.
We need to create an environment where someone can comfortably say: “Hey guys, I am on ART. I want to take my ARVs. Can someone give me some water?” — just as people freely take medication for other conditions.
The fight against stigma and discrimination should begin at home. Families should create an atmosphere of acceptance and support for people living with HIV.
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Unfortunately, some families still maintain a “holier-than-thou” attitude towards HIV, treating it as a disease associated with wrongdoing or immorality.
Members of such families may therefore find it difficult to disclose their status and could choose to suffer silently.
Family members should also be at the forefront of supporting adherence by reminding and encouraging loved ones to take their medication correctly and on time.
When people living with HIV feel loved, supported and accepted, they are more likely to develop the confidence to speak openly about their health and seek the support they need.
As family members, we must also recognise that when someone living with HIV becomes ill and eventually dies after defaulting on treatment, the consequences are felt by the entire family.
Let us therefore encourage openness within our homes.
Parents should avoid making statements in the presence of children and other family members suggesting that HIV or sexually transmitted infections will never be tolerated in their homes.
Instead, families should teach their members to speak openly about issues affecting them, particularly their health.
No one can claim with certainty that they will never acquire HIV.
Communities must therefore accept and support people living with HIV rather than making them feel unwanted or discriminated against.
Communities are our refuges. They should provide the warmth and support that everyone needs to survive the challenges and tragedies of everyday life.
Churches also have an important role to play. They can empower families and communities on how to respond to illness and disease, drawing on appropriate biblical teachings about compassion, care and support for the sick.
Government, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care and other stakeholders, must also continue the work that has been done since HIV and Aids emerged.
Complacency must never be allowed to set in.
As we approach 2030, we must remain vigilant and continue encouraging openness, treatment adherence and acceptance of people living with HIV.
The goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat may be on the horizon, but reaching it will require families, communities, churches, government and individuals to play their part.
Suggested headline: Positive living starts at home
Alternative headlines:
Fighting HIV stigma must begin at home
Let’s make HIV disclosure easier
Families hold the key to better ART adherence
Breaking the silence around HIV starts at home
