The nurse hadn’t opened her mouth yet, but Tree Alexander already knew what she was going to say: He had HIV.
“I could see it on her face,” he recalled.
Waiting for the results was excruciating, but now that he finally had the answer, it brought no relief.
“I remember leaving the hospital that day and wanting to jump on the train tracks,” he said. “I wanted to disappear. I wanted to be a different person.”
That was ten years ago.
Last Thursday, as he sat on a bench in Road Town, the New York resident explained that he’s become “very comfortable” with his status.
Only moments before, the man who took months to tell his own family he had HIV spoke publicly about his disease at a candlelight memorial ceremony for AIDS victims at Noel Lloyd Positive Action Park.
The event, which was held on World AIDS Day, was organised by the HIV AIDS Foundation BVI, which invited Mr. Alexander to speak.
“I decided to speak out about it because the community does not,” he explained. “The trials and tribulations of HIV are still not understood.”
Mr. Alexander, who choked up while addressing the crowd, encouraged attendees to educate themselves about the deadly virus.
“This is real,” he said. “HIV and AIDS are real.”
Following Mr. Alexander’s remarks, attendees were invited to light red candles, which were then laid on the ground in the shape of an awareness ribbon.
The event then concluded with a balloon release.
Foundation
Cid Nava, the chairman of the HIV AIDS Foundation BVI, said he thinks World AIDS Day was a success in the territory.
“It went very well,” he said. “The entire day was busy.”
According to its website, the foundation strives to prevent the spread of the virus, to end the stigma against those who are positive, and to help everyone with HIV/AIDS obtain high quality medical care.
Those who want to assist can donate to the organisation.
“The donations are used for purchasing medicine and doing the routine anti-retro viral tests for those who cannot afford it,” Mr. Nava said. “It also goes towards condoms, which we give away for free.”
For those who don’t have the means to donate, there are other ways to help.
According to Mr. Alexander, one of the best ways to support someone with HIV or AIDS is by acknowledging that they are more than their status.
“They’re still human,” he explained. “They’re still your brother, your neighbour, and your friend.”
To learn more about the foundation, or to make a donation, go to hivaidsbvi.com.
Anyone struggling with an HIV/AIDS related issue can call the 24-hour anonymous helpline at 542-5683.
{fcomment}