TEENS and the loneliness of AIDS In Sub-Saharan Africa the growth of teens contracting the AIDS virus is growing exponentially, especially in rural regions where many women do not access the mother to child prevention drugs because they birth at home and not in hospitals. Their behaviour has resulted in a teen epidemic of AIDS virus. The most significant challenge these innocents face is loneliness, stigma, and isolation; they find it impossible to make friends. These intimate portraits focus on how teens cope with their experience of being HIV positive. Amidst these chilling narratives, extraordinary stories of hope and glimpses of heroism in their quest to pursue their dreams emerged.
TEENS and the loneliness of AIDS
“AIDS is a war against humanity. We need to break the silence, banish the stigma and discrimination and ensure total inclusiveness within the struggle against AIDS. If we discard the people living with HIV/AIDS, we can no longer call ourselves humanâ€
- Nelson Mandela
AIDS has no cure. AIDS continues to grow exponentially, especially amongst woman. In rural regions, many women do not access the mother to child prevention drugs because they birth at home and not in hospitals. This behaviour has resulted in a teen epidemic of AIDS virus. A lesser known story about AIDS is the psychological impact it has on the youth, especially teens as they enter into puberty and their anxieties as they not only cope with the physical components of being HIV positive, but also, their sense of isolation and daily loneliness as once they reveal their status, they are stigmatised, and they find it impossible to make friends.
These intimate portraits focus on how teens cope with their experience of being HIV positive. Amidst their chilling narratives, extraordinary stories of hope and glimpses of heroism in their quest to pursue their dreams emerged.