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Behaviour change is a key area that will possibly see the above being attained. Zero tolerance to errant behaviour will be one of the pillars to achieving the above.
Behaviour change is premised on an individual’s need to change if one lived on the fast and rough lane so to say.
Usually people turn to behaviour change when they have already encountered problems.
I recently spoke to three gentlemen who expressed similar opinions which led me to concluding that zero new HIV infections were hinged on behaviour change.
I will call the men A, B and C.
Man A said he had changed his behaviour but alas it was one moment too late as he did this after his wife had tested HIV positive during an ante-natal test.
“I have mended my ways but I feel it is one moment too late, my wife tested HIV positive when she took an HIV test at an ante-natal clinic. She was commenced on ARVs immediately. Luckily the baby was born clear of the virus. My wife has continued on ART for the good of her health,” said Man A.
Man A said if his wife had not been persistent, he would not have been tested.
“My wife threatened to leave me if I did not take the test. I therefore had no choice but to get tested and the result was positive. Facilitators of the programme encourage fathers to support their families, I had the necessary tests run before I was placed on ARV treatment,” said Man A.
Man B, who is single, said he had cohabited with two women and had lost both lovers and he suspected that he was HIV positive.
“I have never been married but have lived with two different women in my life. When the first woman I was cohabiting with died I was not worried, and within six months I had moved in with another woman,” said Man B.
He said that the loss of a second lover within a space of a year got him thinking.
“The second woman fell ill and within a week she passed away. As I had not paid lobola I was barred from attending the funeral so I did not get to know the cause of her death,” said Man B.
“Since I had lived with both women as husband and wife, it then dawned on me that I was HIV positive as two women I had known had died. I became reckless and intended to spread the virus as I blamed it on my late lovers,” he said.
Man B said that he one day mastered enough courage to go to a New Start Centre.
“One day I got enough guts and passed through a New Start Centre. To say I was shocked with the result is an understatement. I explained that I had lost two lovers hence the need to know my status.
The nurse said I could be in the window period where the virus was undetectable so I had to be re-tested in six months time. She told me that I now had to use protection,” said Man B.
Man B said in the next six months he mended his ways, he did not even have to use protection but abstained.
“I did not even have a lover after the test and when I was re-tested the results remained negative. I have just been lucky considering the way I lived,” he said.
He said that he has seen behaviour change as a cornerstone to the way he now lives.
Man C said that he had always practised safe sex hence when he got tested and the results were negative he was not surprised.
“I have always practised safe sex so when I took an HIV test I was happy with the result,” he said.
Man C said that he was ready to settle down and would demand that his partner get tested too before they tie the knot.
The women I spoke too expressed the desire to have safe sex but for two of them the power to negotiate for that was not in their reach.
The first woman, who works as a commercial sex worker, said she fully knows the dangers of having unprotected sex. She was, however, forced by circumstances at times to forego that.
“I know the risk I put myself through every time I have unprotected sex but if my client demands that and is willing to pay ten-fold the fee then I have no choice,” she said.
I pointed out to her that not only was she at risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV but she also risked getting the human pappiloma virus. This virus, which is caused by having many sexual partners, is responsible for the growing numbers of women suffering from cervical cancer.
Today cervical cancer is a high killer of women living positively.
The second woman said she was married and was faithful to her husband.
She, however, pointed out that she is not really safe as she recently found out that her husband has a child with another woman.
“I have no power to demand that we used condoms in my marriage despite the fact that my husband has a child with another woman. The issue is not for discussion and I know that he still sees the other woman,” she said.
The woman said she has not bothered to have an HIV test.
“It would not help me, my husband has a child with this other woman so what use would it be to get tested. Ukatsvaga makudo mugomo unoawana, so I am not doing that,” she said.
Some married women despite the fact that their spouses have extra-marital affairs have no power to negotiate for safe sex.
The theme “Getting to Zero” then becomes a mirage as new HIV infections are not tackled.

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