New Era

WINDHOEK - In a world where confessed HIV-positive people suffer stigmatisation and are also discriminated against, a young man is going out of his way to encourage those infected to live meaningful lives.

Jerry Hughes tested positive four years ago. Born in Iowa in the mid-western region of the United States, he lived a happy life although he says most of the time he felt lost.

Raised by a single mother, when he was eight his mother got married and it was not long before arguments and alcohol drinking consumed most of the family time in his home.

In later life, he discovered he did not like himself.

"I spent much of my life seeking self-worth and love, as we all do," he says.

Life started taking a different turn when he went to college at the age of 18.

Ã‚ÂºHe started using credit cards and according to him, that independence gave him a sense of power.

"After four years of college, I had about 20 credit cards and US$100 000 of credit," he says.

After the studies he started working and after three years of employment with the American Express Financial Advisors, he lost his job and the going started getting tough.

"I did not share my problem with anyone and eventually I started selling myself as a male escort. I did it for one to two months, after which I felt depressed, almost giving up ..." said Hughes.
Months later and through a friend, he managed to get another job.

"I started getting back to stability but after 18 months, the contract ended and I moved to Chicago," he says.
Being young and energetic, it was not long before he landed another job at an advertising agency in Minneapolis.

On April 14, 2004, on a normal working day at lunchtime, Hughes says he took the step to get tested for HIV.
"I was sitting with my doctor when she spoke the solemn words: 'I am so sorry, Jerry, but you have HIV.' With a heart full of despair and eyes filled with tears, I got up and walked out of her office," he said.

Like many who have tested positive, for a moment he felt he had lost hope in life. But it was only for a moment.

"Shortly after my diagnosis, I made a choice not to allow HIV to keep me from living," Hughes says.
After telling his doctor that he would not allow the virus to "break" him, he found himself speaking at a youth camp in India.

Conservative as the Indian society is, the leaders at the youth camp feared condemnation from the masses.
"When I asked the youths if my story had any impact on them, many supported me and I just broke down. I realised that sometimes what we go through in life is for someone," he says.

By the end of 2004, he felt the need to start up something and applied for government support.

After being rejected at first, his application was approved in December that year and the Hughes Foundation was born. The foundation builds hope for people around the world affected by HIV/AIDS.

The foundation is today a sanctuary of sorts to a growing number of people who hitherto have been driven to their wits' end on account of being HIV positive.

Discrimination
Before returning to India for his motivational address with the youth, Hughes decided to break the news to his family.

"My grandmother said that (the fact that he is HIV positive) did not surprise her," said Hughes, who added he was hurt by the words.

"It hurt me because in her opinion, HIV was like an abomination given her Christian background," he explained.

His mother until to date, has not said anything.

"I have suffered silent discrimination from my family," he said.

Generally, his friends and co-workers are supportive of him.

Attitude Towards HIV
According to Hughes, there is a missing message of hope to those infected and affected.
Again, there is so much fear and most people living with the virus are living in a dead person's body.
"HIV does not end one's life and I am a living example to that," he said.

According to the founder and executive director of Hughes Foundation, there is need to focus on prevention and it starts with people loving themselves to making good choices.

"The disease is preventable and if we love ourselves we can stop the spread of HIV," he said.
Calling himself a preacher of abstinence, Hughes emphasises on four core values of hope, healing, prevention and life.

"The core values of the Hughes Foundation include being a voice and force of hope to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS through our programmes that focus on physical and spiritual healing; teach prevention to those not infected with HIV/AIDS; and help those infected with HIV/AIDS to live life to the fullest," he says.
Hughes is currently in Namibia and is working with Venasius Rukero, who recently started an institution that works with HIV/AIDS orphans.

Hughes's Journey
"My journey before my HIV diagnosis was filled with many valleys - very challenging times. I often felt like a little boy inside a man's body, who just wanted to be loved. As I reflected on the meaning of the words, 'Jerry, you have HIV', the little boy inside this man decided to step out and into the arms of God.

"In that moment of trust, I experienced incredible peace. It might sound very confusing, how a moment of such tragedy would feel so peaceful. I like to describe the moment as 'peace in the midst of the storm'. It was not HIV that brought this peace, but rather it came from God.

"Sometimes God will allow something that He hates in order to accomplish something that He loves. I knew I needed to begin to live with His purpose in mind, and the first step toward living was to accept His love and to learn to love myself."

HIV/AIDS Facts in Namibia
- First case reported 22 years ago;
- 204Ã‚Â 000 Namibians living with the virus;
- 14Ã‚Â 000 new infections were estimated this year only;
- 39 cases being recorded on a daily basis;
- Majority of those being infected are young people aged between 15 and 24 and mostly women; and
- 70Ã‚Â 000 are in need of anti-retroviral treatment.
Source: Ministry of Health and Social Services

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