This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/jul/19/under-shadow-dirty-hiv-south-african-children-offered-refuge-charlize-theron-whizzkids

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Under the shadow of 'dirty' HIV, South African children offered a refuge Under the shadow of 'dirty' HIV, South African children offered a refuge
(about 1 month later)
In Edendale in KwaZulu Natal, which has the highest HIV rate of any province in South Africa, there are children who had believed, from when they were very young, that they were on daily pills for chronic tuberculosis.In Edendale in KwaZulu Natal, which has the highest HIV rate of any province in South Africa, there are children who had believed, from when they were very young, that they were on daily pills for chronic tuberculosis.
It comes as a shocking revelation to discover that they were born with HIV in a town where it is said in the Zulu language to be a “dirty” infection.It comes as a shocking revelation to discover that they were born with HIV in a town where it is said in the Zulu language to be a “dirty” infection.
“Most parents don’t know how to tell [them],” says Dr Nonhlanhla Madlala, who works in the clinic of a project called the WhizzKids Health Academy. “The nature of the disease, being sexually transmitted, causes a lot of stigma.“Most parents don’t know how to tell [them],” says Dr Nonhlanhla Madlala, who works in the clinic of a project called the WhizzKids Health Academy. “The nature of the disease, being sexually transmitted, causes a lot of stigma.
Related: Racism an underlying cause of HIV epidemic, says Charlize Theron
“You find a young person who has been taking medicine since they were born and at 13 or 14 they find they have this disease that everybody has been talking about. Sometimes they discover it by overhearing somebody talking about them or a granny or an aunt gets frustrated and says, ‘Take your pills or this HIV is going to kill you.’”“You find a young person who has been taking medicine since they were born and at 13 or 14 they find they have this disease that everybody has been talking about. Sometimes they discover it by overhearing somebody talking about them or a granny or an aunt gets frustrated and says, ‘Take your pills or this HIV is going to kill you.’”
WhizzKids, funded by the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, gives young people a safe place to come, away from stigma and the judgmental gaze of parents and other relatives. Madlala runs a clinic that offers HIV medication and counselling for young people who are appalled at the discovery of their infection and afraid they will be rejected by their community and wider family and friends if they are open about it. Some of them miss their pills because relatives visit who do not know the secret.WhizzKids, funded by the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project, gives young people a safe place to come, away from stigma and the judgmental gaze of parents and other relatives. Madlala runs a clinic that offers HIV medication and counselling for young people who are appalled at the discovery of their infection and afraid they will be rejected by their community and wider family and friends if they are open about it. Some of them miss their pills because relatives visit who do not know the secret.
“But the internal stigma is a bigger problem – what they are telling themselves about their disease is more difficult than having to deal with what other people are saying about them,” says Madlala.“But the internal stigma is a bigger problem – what they are telling themselves about their disease is more difficult than having to deal with what other people are saying about them,” says Madlala.
WhizzKids helps these children and others who do not have HIV but are at risk because there is no family conversation about safe sex, and adolescents are afraid to go to family planning clinics.WhizzKids helps these children and others who do not have HIV but are at risk because there is no family conversation about safe sex, and adolescents are afraid to go to family planning clinics.
“They ask too many questions,” says Nqobile Maphalala, 18. “Like, ‘Does your mother know you are here? Why are you doing these things?’ Sometimes they even try to call your mother.”“They ask too many questions,” says Nqobile Maphalala, 18. “Like, ‘Does your mother know you are here? Why are you doing these things?’ Sometimes they even try to call your mother.”
She and her 15-year-old friend, Mandisa Buthelezi, both have boyfriends, they say, but would never tell their parents or carers. “My mother would beat me hard, saying, ‘You are too young,’” says Mandisa.She and her 15-year-old friend, Mandisa Buthelezi, both have boyfriends, they say, but would never tell their parents or carers. “My mother would beat me hard, saying, ‘You are too young,’” says Mandisa.
Related: HIV/Aids resurgence in Africa feared as Durban hosts conference
She lives with her grandmother, four siblings and four other children. She does not know how her mother died – her father left home – but she knows she does not have HIV because she was tested at WhizzKids.She lives with her grandmother, four siblings and four other children. She does not know how her mother died – her father left home – but she knows she does not have HIV because she was tested at WhizzKids.
“My gran is the only one working. She goes into people’s houses to clean,” Mandisa says. They live in four rooms in a mud house and a house built of blocks next to it, which she says allows the orphans a little bit of dignity in their community.“My gran is the only one working. She goes into people’s houses to clean,” Mandisa says. They live in four rooms in a mud house and a house built of blocks next to it, which she says allows the orphans a little bit of dignity in their community.
In 2010, the academy launched WhizzKids United. Young people gain lessons in self-confidence, learned through football games where obstacles are identified and goals can be reached.In 2010, the academy launched WhizzKids United. Young people gain lessons in self-confidence, learned through football games where obstacles are identified and goals can be reached.
“Young people want to be healthy,” says WhizzKids founder Marcus McGilvray, a British HIV nurse who went to help in the African epidemic in 2002, launching the Edendale project in 2006. “They want opportunities for education and they want to have jobs in the future.”“Young people want to be healthy,” says WhizzKids founder Marcus McGilvray, a British HIV nurse who went to help in the African epidemic in 2002, launching the Edendale project in 2006. “They want opportunities for education and they want to have jobs in the future.”
He has also launched a year-long programme for unemployed, disadvantaged young people aged 17 to 23 called Game Changers, to help them develop skills that will get them into work or university. About 6,000 young people have come through the WhizzKids projects. Now he hopes to open more such projects to help others elsewhere.He has also launched a year-long programme for unemployed, disadvantaged young people aged 17 to 23 called Game Changers, to help them develop skills that will get them into work or university. About 6,000 young people have come through the WhizzKids projects. Now he hopes to open more such projects to help others elsewhere.