Infected women put Christian spin on HIV/AIDS

In the constant struggle to educate Belizeans about the deadly virus called HIV, one of the hardest things to do is convince HIV. positive men and women into talking publicly about prevention and living with the disease. The experts agree that sharing experiences can serve as a crucial wake-up call to everyone at risk. In that spirit, this week two missionaries from the HIV. Ministry that is, “He Intends Victory” Ministry in California are visiting different parts of the country to give Belizeans living with HIV…hope.

Renee Austin, HIV Ministry

“Before I found out that I was living with HIV, I was afraid of it, and I considered, you know you hear a lot, well just send everybody with HIV to an island somewhere, you know, remove them. I say San Pedro, it’s nice there, or Kauai. (laughs) “But that sense that we should exclude people with HIV from society so that it doesn’t spread anymore. But when you find out it’s you, your perspective changes a bit. So I try and stay mindful of how I felt and give people some credit and realize that they are afraid and that out of their ignorance is their fear. So we if we can work on educating people, if people who are infected can stand up and start educating people about HIV and AIDS, they’ll find that they are more well received because we can talk openly that you don’t get it through sitting on a toilet seat, or drinking out of a glass, using the payphone. Also, here in Belize, starting tomorrow is a 0-800 number that people with HIV can call. 0-800-HIV-HOPE is the number. So there will be someone there that can talk to them and help them through the process of telling their families, going to a doctor and getting some medical help.”

Joan Yorba-Gray, HIV Ministry

“There is hope. We are not given an automatic death sentence when we are diagnosed with HIV. If we take care of ourselves, if we eat well, if we don’t use drugs and alcohol, if we get our rest, we can live many years with HIV and many good years. Since I’ve been diagnosed, I married a man who is HIV negative, we’ve been married nine years and he’s still HIV negative. So if people can realize there is life after HIV.”

The help line 0-800-HIV-HOPE will be operational beginning on Wednesday.