Infected teens' appeal - Tackle spread of HIV among us, they urge ministries of education and health

Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer

Beautiful, bright-eyed and feisty Maria, and the more contemplative Appleare two typical teenagers with more than one thing in common. First, they have already given birth - one is the mother of twins while the other lost her child to death after only three months. Second, they are both HIV-positive.

One was born with the virus, and the other contracted it when she was five months' pregnant.

The two are a small percentage of the 10-19 age-group which is giving local health officials the biggest headache as far as HIV-transmission goes.

The incidents of HIV among this age group has continued to rise in the last three decades, and the infection rate among the 15-24 age group has public-health and public-policy officials knocking their collective heads against the wall.

Apple and Maria shared their story with The Sunday Gleaner ahead of World AIDS Day.

They are critical of the absence of a credible public education campaign targeting vulnerable individuals like themselves, who are at risk of contracting and transmitting HIV.

Even as they are thankful that medical research has removed the 'certain death' label from those with the virus, they believe the ministries of education and health must lead the fight to reduce transmission in their age group.

"We talk about everything by ourselves. We talk about everything that other teenagers talk about. Hair, clothes, music. Right now at my school, mostly girls, we talk about hairdressing. And because we spend most of our time at school, we must tell our own stories, and the message must start with schools and our teachers," said Maria.

She contracted the virus from her now-deceased mother at birth and did not know her status until she was 11 years old and in the care for the State.

Improvements in treatment over the years prevented her baby girl from contracting the disease.

Maria knew she was positive, but did not tell her teenage babyfather her status, and "nearly fell through the ground" when officials at the hospital she attended for pre-natal clinic told the father without her knowledge.

Maria knew it was wrong "not to tell him", but with loads of teenage attitude said, "it should be my decision to tell him." And she has.

Months later, they are still together, and "he said he does not love me any less because of my status".

Multiple partners

Apple, on the other hand, does not know who infected her, as the 23-year-old man who is the father of her children was not her only sexual partner while attending high school.

"All my friends were doing it. I don't really know. I was angry all the time. Angry with everybody who was stealing my things that my boyfriend gives me. I was dissing my mother and I just never had any manners," said Apple, who has accepted that she still has anger issues.

Even as both has accepted responsibility and accepted that their "sexual choices were wrong", their responses as to why are the same.

"I was afraid to tell him, and sometimes it (sex) is sweeter without the condoms," said Apple.

In addition to the fear, both admitted to "bowing to peer pressure" to have sex, but Maria said she felt ready for sex at 16 years.

They were equally adamant that they would never tell their teachers their status, as there is stigma and discrimination for those living with the disease.

With unanimous acceptance, both said past experience have led them to believe that if they told their teachers that they were HIV-positive, it "would spread more quickly around the schoolyard than a bush fire".

However, both felt comfortable telling their guidance counsellors.

Meanwhile, two young girls with the life-changing virus expressed gratitude for counselling and advocacy provided to them by Eve for Life, the non-profit, non-governmental organisation which supports teen mothers living with HIV and AIDS.

Names changed on request