Sipho & Amos – Filmac Mining Project

21st April 2010
by The Editors

This photostory was produced by Tendayi and Cynthia Kureya; PANOS; SAFAIDS Zimbabwe and photography by Tendayi Kureya

1 of 5. ‘Map of Zimbabwe showing location of Inyathi.’ The Bekezela Home Based Care (BHBC) project is based in Inyathi, Bubi District in the Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe. There are many cases of HIV and AIDS in the area, which is said to be attributed to the to the influx of people who come in search of gold. The following story has been written by Sipho Moyo (nee Ngwenya) and her husband Amos, who are both HIV positive.

2 of 5. ‘Mr. and Mrs. Moyo in front of their unfinished house.’ My husband Amos and I ‘stay’ in Inyathi district Ward 15. Three years ago, we both tested positive for HIV. For years we struggled with poor health, high medical expenses and stigmatization. Medical and social complications related to HIV and AIDS drain your family income and dry up any savings you may have. HIV and AIDS bring about discrimination on the infected and the affected. It brews misunderstanding, mistrust, fear, hate, regret, sorrow, hurt and stress. However, there are very rare instances where it can unify a family and bring people closer together.

3 of 5. ‘Sipho Moyo outside her family home.’ I got seriously ill in 2006. Community members ridiculed my husband for keeping an HIV positive person in his home. The mocking was so intense that one day it resulted into a fist fight between my husband’s brother and a passerby who shouted out that I was HIV positive. The stigmatization went to such extremes that even our children were affected. My husband had to assist me with household chores at that time since I was too weak to do any. We were forced to sell 36 of our goats and had to suspend the construction of our stone-walled house since all of our resources were diverted towards my medical expenses.

4 of 5. ‘Mrs. Margret Sibanda , right and Liya Ndlovu Home Based Caregivers for ward 15 who assisted the Moyos. Insert-From the left, Sipho Ngwenya, Mrs.Vanisa Siwela and Zanele Mdauzo at Bekezela Home Base Care room.’ It was the Secondary Care Givers Mrs. Vanisa Siwela and Margret Sibanda that introduced us to Bekezela Home Based Care. The care givers encouraged us to join a support group. We were counseled and assisted with palliative drugs, herbal remedies, support for low cost income generating activities and information about HIV and AIDS. In 2007, they helped us to access Antiretroviral Therapy.

5 of 5. ‘Amos Moyo at Filmac Mining Project site. Inset Filmac mine shaft at 36 meters.’ My family was pleased with my recovery, despite my having exhausted most of our resources. In 2007, BHBC gave us Zimbabwe $150,000 (about US$75) to kick start a gold mining project. We used the money to legally register the mining project called Filmac Mining Project and hire 10 workers. All of the workers were members of our support group. The financial support from Irish Aid through Bekezela has given hope to my family and many other infected and affected people within the 6 operational wards in Bubi District. Our project has the potential to benefit people and the community at large. We use some of the profit to take the sick to hospital and purchase their drugs. Resilience, love, and open mindedness are the secrets to successfully fighting HIV and AIDS as a family and a community.

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