Tested HIV positive in 1989, but is still going strong

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Three decades ago, Johana Kasirori never imagined she would live this far.

Having tested positive for HIV in 1989 when she was still 22, she saw her world crumbling.

Getting in and out of hospital as she battled for life became the order of the day.

She would periodically endure medication side effects, including fighting the associated stigma which taught her never to take life for granted.

“I live each day as if it is my last because I have a lot to be grateful for. So, I make sure I am stress-free, exercise and take my medication religiously as I celebrate another chance at life,” said Kasirori.

As she turns 55 on March 23, the bubbly Kasirori reluctantly agreed to open old wounds.

Her cheerful smile makes it nearly impossible for anyone to realise that she buries a lot of pain and sorrow underneath.

She recalls getting married to her sweetheart of three years, Shepard Kasirori, in a glamorous ceremony in 1986 when she was still 19.

That same year she gave birth to her only child.

Two years later, when they were still enjoying their honeymoon phase, her husband fell ill.

Health facilities around Redcliff where they stayed failed to contain the sickness, resulting in him being transferred to Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare.

With each passing day, Kasirori watched her husband losing weight as diarrhoea, pneumonia, recurring headaches among other ailments took turns to torment him.

He finally succumbed to complications in 1989.

Life became unbearably tough for her.

Not only was she plunged into mourning, but she also had to deal with the reality of her status despite having very limited information about the virus around that time.

‘‘I went through hell,” reminisced Kasirori.

She had kept her status a secret for a while, but later on opened up to her family and also started taking anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) although they were still scarce back then.

She went on to feature on a ZBC TV commercial alongside Pastor Maxwell Kapachawo and lecturer Davies Mazodze, where the trio opened up about their statuses.

As she came to terms with reality, new challenges emerged.

Kasirori started experiencing ARV side effects. The impact was so severe that it left her disfigured.

“I suffered facial paralysis due to the medication. It was scary and people gossiped about me,” she said.

“It was around 2003, stigma and discrimination were still rife. I had to be strong for myself and my daughter. I weighed the negatives against life and felt grateful that the ARVs had actually given me another chance at life.”

Instead of sympathy, the community mocked Kasirori which affected her self-esteem.

Her daughter was not spared.

She was treated as an outcast at school because of the powerful HIV/AIDS commercial advert that her mother had featured on.

Naturally, Kasirori was forced to take her daughter for counselling.

A few years later, advanced medication was availed at various facilities around the country courtesy of Government.

The new type of drugs have caused little or no side effects on her.

Through workshops and literature, she also learnt that one has to promptly seek medical attention when they exhibit side effects of any sort.

Kasirori was never hospitalised despite the health complications she faced.

“I was nursed at home. I was afraid that if I get admitted I would die in hospital. I got best the home-based care from my daughter and siblings,” she said.

Secret To Longevity
The horrible experiences she went through have toughened her.

“The experiences transformed me into a woman of steel. Living positively means you have to be mentally strong and resilient because stigma and discrimination are still there and worse at times. Sometimes you find it in places you least expect,” bemoaned Kasirori.

Since she started taking her medication, she has never defaulted.

She ingests her dose around 8pm every day and makes sure that she takes the medication with her when she travels.

To avoid stress, Kasirori said she keeps herself occupied.

Apart from being an HIV/AIDS counsellor, she has made sure that she is enrolled for a particular study programme at any given time in addition to researching the virus. She is a holder of a Communication Degree from the Zimbabwe Open University and has several qualifications in HIV/AIDS counselling, garment making, beadwork, community work and catering to mention but a few.

In addition, she goes on vacation during her spare time and takes up gigs as master of ceremonies at various functions.

She currently sits on the Glen Norah community advisory board on tuberculosis.

At Glen Norah 2 High, where she teaches, she openly talks about her status and takes time to enlighten her workmates and learners about HIV/AIDS. She also talks to school children, emphasising abstinence. To those who are already positive, her gospel is on living positively.

“As a teacher, I also have learners who were born positive and if they open up to me. I make sure I assist in the best possible way because the journey has a lot of ups and downs but above all, I teach them to be grateful for the gift of life.

“Opening up may be difficult at first, but it is the best way to avoid stress. Some people who recognise me from the advert are surprised that I am still alive. Others even ask to see my identity particulars for confirmation,” said Kasirori.

She feels the family unit is an important component if infected people are to live positively.

Although she stays alone, Kasirori, who is now a grandmother of five, has a close relationship with her daughter and son-in-law.

Kasirori spends most of her weekends with them and said her mission is to help create an HIV/AIDS-free generation.

“I am grateful to HIV/AIDS activists like Tendai Westerhof, who have gone an extra mile in assisting young people around the country.

“As women living with HIV, we should not view ourselves as victims but to take charge of our lives, stick out for each other and be a support system.

“For me, every day is an opportunity to improve myself and others. There are many women that I admire who live with HIV and are better than me so I work hard to be like them,” she said.

With age, Kasirori said, being positive makes most women vulnerable to some ailments like high blood pressure (BP) and some types of cancers hence the need for regular check-ups.

–Sunday Mail