An African chief stands against AIDS -

Swaziland

Source: ICRC

“I had to take a stand,” he says. “I see more and more people dying, more and more falling ill and being unable to work their land. It causes great distress and poverty. But no one says what ails them. Everyone knows it is AIDS but they always blame it on something else. Some people even speak of a mystery illness and put it down to witchcraft. “I have to stop the denial and start the community thinking about how to deal with AIDS. I am infected myself, so are many of my neighbours. I could not be quiet any longer. I had my responsibility. “Unless people speak up and face the truth about HIV this community is doomed. If things don’t change it will just die off,” he says. MORE