HIV “branding” comments enrage Swazi public
Published: 30 May, 2009, 08:53
Edited: 11 October, 2010, 15:36
TAGS: Health, Scandal, Africa, Human rights, Law, Sex
Proposing a solution to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland, which has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the world, has sparked public outrage and threatens to cost a government official his job.
“I have a solution to the virus,” Timothy Myeni, a Member of Parliament (MP) announced to his colleagues at a leadership workshop.
“The solution will come from a law that will make it compulsory to test for HIV. Once you test positive, you should be branded on the buttocks,” he said. “Before having sex with anyone, people will then check the buttocks of their partners before proceeding with their mission.”
If any positive consideration has been given to this suggestion, it has been completely overshadowed by rejection and fury.
“We do not need legislators who think like him because some of the people who voted for him could be positive,” said Siphiwe Hlophe, Director of Swaziland Positive Living (SWAPOL), an active and respected HIV/AIDS organization.
Lucky Mazibuko, an HIV/AIDS columnist in South Africa, called MP Myeni an “uncultured and insensitive lunatic.”
Although the reaction to MP Myeni’s proposal shocked Swaziland and most of Southern Africa, his idea is not the first of its kind.
This time last year Dr. Eliot Tofa, a lecturer at the University of Swaziland, also suggested that people infected with the virus be marked on their buttocks or thighs. Dr. Tofa argued that since Swaziland’s prevention efforts thus far have failed, people need to be coerced to disclose their statuses.
When called upon to withdraw his statement and apologize, Dr. Tofa refused, claiming, “I have done nothing wrong.”
MP Myeni has not been so courageous. “I am very sorry for saying HIV positive people should be branded, I did not know it would turn out like this,” he lamented. “I have seen that the suggestion was very offensive and many think I was discriminating, so I withdraw my statement.”
“If you need me to show a sign of how sorry I am, I'm ready to show [it],” the MP pleaded.
However, withdrawing his statements about branding infected people is not enough. The Times of Swaziland reported Hlophe as saying her organization does not like half-withdrawals.
SWAPOL threatens to petition and protest march for Myeni’s removal as a legislator if he does not also retract his support for mandatory testing.
MP Myeni is the leader of a popular gospel group and there have been calls to boycott the group’s music. Hlophe is prepared to take this a step further if Myeni does not complete his apology.
SWAPOL has reportedly decided to dress in T-shirts inscribed “HIV positive” and then go to all of Myeni’s concerts in Swaziland to ensure that he will be disturbed during his performances.
Michelle Smith for RT
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5 comments
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To understand why people like him propose something like this you need to google "bilderberg", "nwo" and "rockefeller population control". Its all about the elite's agenda for human reduction - from 6bil to 500mil. HIV does not cause AIDS. AIDS-antiviral drugs like HZT (which is ofc patented like all other BigPharma medicines) are the real cause of AIDS. Robert Gallo is the guy who created HIV and get royalties from his patented HIV-tests (which are proven to be fraudulent). We need to stand against these corporate dogs whose only god is Money and Greed. Most of the viruses (like H1N1, Avian flu etc) are manmade from US military contract laboratories. Its funny how Baxter patented the Avian flu vaccine 2008, a year before the pandemic. Its just selfirony. Everyone should check www.aliveandwell.org/ before saying a word to way or another. Peach and love!
You know of a better way to stop some of these people from spreading it? Just this week thay arrested a guy that had been in court already 9 times for having sex with girls and not telling them. Yes, this is an exception as this man was black and was only going to bed with white women as he stated he wanted to get rid of them all because of a bad experience he had with just one.I think the ones that need a brand are the ones that deliberately go out to harm people. Like the sex offenders that have to register now for doing what they do.There is no difference in these people not telling their sex partner than if a person took a gun a shot someone. Being shot would even be more humane.....My cousin has had HIV for over 11 years but she refuses to have sex with anyone as to be sure she doesn't spread it.
At first the idea sounds kind of practical....in a desperate and life-threatening situation. However, it is severely flawed. Firstly, we are not animals and it is inhumane and debasing to brand people like this. Spend those same efforts and resources educating people about diseases and safe-sex and the outcome would be much better I think. (I do partially agree with branding people who have been shown to exhibit predatory or willful infection of their partners) The main point in my view, is that the absence of a brand is not equivalent to a bill of good health. It's no guarantee, and it provides no protection against any other sexually transmitted diseases or unwanted pregnancies. What do you do? Check the person's bum and no brand = fine to go ahead unprotected? What if they have very recently contracted HIV and are as yet undiagnosed? I agree with Jesse, if you have enough understanding and education on the subject to check the persons bum for a brand...you certainly should have enough understanding to use a condom. If you are worried about it (and you should be) then protect yourself. Education is essential, not marking people.