Whatsapp Group Discussion Sparks Deeper Debate on The Contrasts Between What We Mean By Caring And What We Do about People Living With HIV

It is a group of about 35 members, it was initiated in 2014. Back then, they had 54 members and it was a vibrant one. 

Almost every two hours a new meme, theme or emoji about this or that was shared.

An occasional number featured showing a person who left the group.

And in came two or three others.

Soon, the moderators corralled in those of us who remained and showed us the purpose of the group.

Two or three were summarily dismissed from the group.

We even raised money at one occasion for a charitable goal I have forgotten. 

At another we helped trace three missing people.

We raised money for people living with HIV who did not have food and were about to be evicted from their houses.

HIV always brings to mind the words: exclusionary (contingent or facultative); inclusionary (obligatory inclusion); symbolic inclusion; and prescribed inclusion.  

The social structures with which we survive in Africa are such that for a person living with HIV has to have financial clout; come from a family which has connections; is at a condition where it is adjustment is feasible to all best care options; can fix a multitude of vulnerabilities (The four F's). The four F's are the HIV care grids.

Otherwise if the four F's are not applicable one starts dropping off the HIV care grid. Like a radio experiencing loss of signals.  This is when one is excluded from accessing optimal care.  

Society assumes individuals are supposed to take initiative and be part of its activities. Society is like a rope onto which we hold as we swing around. Letting go is uncalled for in this dangerous-sometimes-fun-game. It is expected of everyone to hold on to that rope tightly. 

Rarely do we have time to check on each other or for a person living with HIV. It is no wonder that persons living with HIV assume a survival mode and live on minimal scruples. This is including giving up many luxuries and isolating themselves when the applicability of the four F's we talked of is low.

But, it does not mean that theorising about why Africa still lets her Persons Living With HIV die forlornly is enough. We must go a step or two steps further.

We must agree to train peers in minimum care for others of the same peerage. A Task-Shifting of sorts. In an endemic climate of phobias, stigma and discrimination small support spaces once empowered with the four F's we talked of earlier will become the spaces of care in Africa. 1,000,000 or 2,000,000 million of these spaces will do a lot to reverse HIV.