Matatolo

I am a 54-year-old woman. I tested HIV positive on the 20th of June 2005 at Maryland Health Centre then was referred to Tsepong clinic for further management. It is at Tsepong where I got counseling, encouragement, support, treatment, and ongoing support. I am still enrolled in care at Tsepong till today.

The first day I was diagnosed HIV positive was like a nightmare. All I could think of was the kind of life I would lead, with my children and I being unemployed, seeing how difficult life would be.

Since nothing is impossible with God, I got encouragement and counseling from the book of Esaih chapter 38 verse 16-20 and Psalm 41 and 109, along with many other verses.

On the 19th of August 2003 I was diagnosed with Herpes Zoster. That was the beginning of my being notorious for being infected with HIV. My neighbours hated and discriminated against me. Some even said that I should not touch them because I will infect them with HIV. Ironically nowdays I see them at Tsepong, I wonder where they got the infection.

What really surprised me is how they got to know of my HIV status. They diagnosed me before any doctor could. When I called them witches they got upset, yet I still wonder even now how the got to know my status.

Despite all these people, I got firm support from my mother and children, whereas my husband deserted me the day I disclosed up until today.

    Matatolo Mononte
    Ha Tatole

(Poem)
Oh what a traumatic, terrible disease
You HIV, is one disgusting enough to be spat upon
You kill both adults and children alike
A new born leaves its mother immediately after birth
You are not afraid to leave children orphaned
You infect the rich and the poor alike
HIV, you that cannot be cured
Ecclesias says: there is a time for everything
So is your day coming too
Thou shall dissolve like mist, and pass like a shadow
My people, stop pointing fingers
Focus on your own infections
And let others be
If you ignore your infection, it will kill you.