“Phindile started becoming an HIV activist after seeing a lot of people struggling from discrimination and stigma,” By: Lerato Moteane
Phindile Sekete is a 32-year-old HIV activist who was born and bred in Vosloorus. She is a mother to a 9-year-old daughter and works for one of the leading pharmacies in South Africa as a general worker. Being a motivator is what she loves, but above everything else, she chose to be her true self. She discovered her HIV status in 2009 while pregnant; the news came as a shock. However, she was more worried about the innocent life she was carrying. For those who see HIV as a life-threatening disease, Phindile chose to turn tables. She did not allow her status to take control over her life. “I felt that this is a virus in me and I must take control of it,” she said. Phindile has been living with HIV for a decade now and continues to live a happy, healthy life. She did not abandon the fact that people have the knowledge of HIV/AIDS. “There is information about HIV and Aids, it is just that we are naïve towards such things and often stress about what the next person is going to say. Now I just concentrated and focused on myself, and getting healthy,” she said. Phindile decided to create a Facebook page called ‘Living the fabulous life with HIV’ to express herself, share her life stories and motivate her followers. “Living with HIV is something that you cannot hide, because hiding it might lead to a person not healing and getting the necessary support they need,” she said. She adds that starting a Facebook page was for her to set an example to people - that talking/sharing helps – she wanted to be open for the reason of not wanting to explain her situation to people that she comes across. Phindile does not worry about the stigma and what people think of her. “I walk confidently in the streets, people know my status and they approach me to ask for advice. I am still an open person and continue to give my best smile,” she says. She does all that out of love and not for the benefit of it. Phindile said, “I want people, especially parents of people who are living with HIV to give their children support because that is a struggle. I get messages of people saying they are struggling with their parents’ support,” she says. According to Phindile, her daughter is what gives her a purpose to continue living her life. “I live for my precious daughter,” she smiles. “I wish her to be the loving person that I am, I wish she takes all the good characteristics and let my legacy be carried on through her,” she says. Phindile encourages women to be strong, to stand on their own feet and that they shouldn’t stay in relationships that do not benefit them.
Comments