There are few if any real Positive Living role models known among the people of Papua New Guinea living with HIV/AIDS.
There are those who live with their families and really have nothing to say as they are happy. It is good news if they have followed the Positive Living message on peace, love, exercise, nutrition, faith, hope and freedom from booze and smoking.
The ones we never see may be have the capacity to be role models. But they have been pushed out of sight by the high profile PLWHA who seek to take everything available.
So this country is dominated by a small clique of selfish people living with HIV/AIDS who have a monopoly on all free benefits. Some will respond to any competition with violence.
There is no such thing as the older PLWHA working to train young people with HIV/AIDS to prepare them to take over.
Why train people who will take free benefits? They are to be kept silent and scared. If there is an overseas conference, it’s me. If a trip around the country staying at the best hotels, it’s me. This applies forever.
Positive Living requires role models to live by the message. There are senior PLWHA who do not do that. We know that smoking kills those with HIV. But these people may smoke and be seen doing so. This is not being a role model.
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We know that boozing damages the body. But they booze and do not talk of boozing in their Positive Living message. People can live by Positive Living and be a boozer. Look at me.
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A problem comes with family. To live by Positive Living, one needs to live with close support of family. But many PLWHA have always had a life of promiscuity and boozing away from home. They do not want to live in their family.
If they can find a sucker who will set up a hostel for them, they will be there to do what they can to kick out the present occupants and move in.
What about their family? That is the key to Positive Living. They have perfected a little tear and a cry when they address a workshop on how their family has rejected them (sob). They want to follow family living but they can not (sob).
You see they are victims of stigma and discrimination. Their family has done that to them. For some that may be true. But we have to look at the person. Is this person spinning a false story?
There will be PLWHA who have left their family to follow a life of booze, cigarettes and sex. They have not been welcome at home because they do not help the family. They have been working for UNDP and spend all their money on booze. What about sharing with family?
They have come in at all hours drunk and been violent to family members. They live around the town. They never tell their audiences this side of the story.
But then there is another side. The people in AusAID and the UN who want to employ them will be gay and lesbian anti-family.
So the PLWHA become anti-family too to ensure continued employment. Whatever is wanted of them, they will follow. Rights? Yes. No responsibilities? Yes. Gender equity? Yes. Violent men? Yes.
Then when it is all over, the final trick for some will be to follow Jesus. Now they can seek the support of the churches. But they have to seek support of family. No more booze and cigarettes. No more sex around the town.
Now that family is moving to the centre, the senior PLWHA role models will suddenly be advocates of family. Whoever pays the piper plays the tune.