Leonardo Blair, Enterprise Reporter
HUSH. JOHN is a student. He is 21 years old and living with HIV.
Hush. His friends at school don't know and his teachers don't have a clue.
Hush. Even after two years of knowing John has managed to keep even his own family out of the loop. For them, says John, not knowing is beautiful and you can't tell by looking.
"I wouldn't encourage anybody to tell students or teachers (of one's HIV status). It will be safer for you, you won't have to be fretting and wondering," John explains.
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture could launch as many programmes for HIV/AIDS management in schools as they want but no policy guidelines on the management of HIV and AIDS can offer John more protection than his silence. This is what has kept him safe from ridicule and scorn over the past two years.
BIG SECRET
Mr. Shamusis a high school teacher. He is a part- time comedian and comes across as a normal guy. Mr. Shamus, however, has a 13-year-old secret. He too is living with HIV.
And despite the fact that he hushes too, Mr. Shamus is sometimes bitter. Bitter about what he had to deal with in the past and what he fears he may have to deal with in the future. "Nobody in the school knows about my HIV status. Not even the principal," he says. "My mother is still in a state of denial and my father hasn't spoken to me for years.
"If my students knew of my status I would be uncomfortable with the situation. If people found out they probably would not want me teaching their children."
This is what happens to people like John and Mr. Shamus when there is disclosure sometimes, which makes some people like Donna- Marie Ross angry. "I heard of a little girl at one school who is being made to sit by herself in all her classes because she has HIV. I will have to check this out," she says.
The series continues tomorrow
