Watumiaji wa mtandao wa intaneti duniani kote wanampongeza Saidy Brown, msichana mwenye miaka 22 huko Afrika Kusini, aliyetumia mtandao wa Twita mwezi uliopita kutangaza  kuwa ana virusi vya UKIMWI.

Brown ameishi maisha yake yote akiwa na virusi hivyo, ambavyo vilichukua maisha ya wazazi wake wote wawili, lakini alifahamu hali yake hiyo akiwa ndio kwanza ameingia kwenye umri wa balehe.

Mwezi uliopita, aliamua kusimulia hadharani namna anavyoishi, akitwiti:

When I found out at 14 that I was HIV positive, I didn't think I would live to see 18,I am turning 22 this year. ❤❤ pic.twitter.com/drZDVCorPK

— Saidy Brown (@saidy_brown) February 24, 2017

Nilipogundua kuwa nina virusi vya UKIMWI nikiwa na umri wa miaka 14, sikufikiri ningeweza kuishi kufikia miaka 18, hivi sasa nina miaka 22.

Kwa mujibu wa Avert, shirika la misaada linalofanya kazi kuzuia kuenea kwa VVU, Afrika Kusini ni nchi yenye maambukizi makubwa duniani. Miaka miwili iliyopita, kulikuwa na maambukizi mapya yapatayo 380,000 ya Virusi Vya UKIMWI nchini humo, wakati idadi ya watu walioathirika mpaka sasa ni milioni 7. Kiasi cha watu 180,000 nchini Afrika Kusini wamekuwa wakipoteza maisha yao kwa magonjwa yanayohusiana na UKIMWI tangu mwaka 2015.

Shirika la AIDS Foundation South Africa linahusisha kuenea kwa maambukizi hayo ya VVU nchini Afrika Kusini na sababu kama vile umasikini, kukosekana kwa usawa, kutokuwepo kwa utengamano wa kijamii, kuenea kwa ngono zisizo salama, hadhi duni ya wanwake, unyanyasaji wa kijinsia, ongezeko la wahamiaji, upungufu na ukosefu wa huduma bora za afya, na historia ya uongozi mbovu katika kupambana na ugonjwa huo.

Utafiti unaoitwa “Kiwango cha Unyanyapaa dhidi ya Watu Wanaoishi na UKIMWI nchini Afrika Kusini,” uliokamilishwa na Baraza la Utafiti wa Sayansi za Afya,  uligundua mtu mmoja katika watatu wanaoishi na VVU amekutana na matukio ya unyanyapaa wa jamii -huku wanawake wakiongoza kunyanyapaliwa kuliko wanaume.

Haishangazi, kwa maana hiyo, kuwa ujasiri wa Brown kufunguka kuhusiana na afya yake kwenye mitandao ya kijamii kumemfanya apate sifa nyingi kutoka kwa watumiaji wa mtandao wa Twita. Mtumiaji mmoja wa Twita, “Wako Joel,” alipendekeza dada huyo afanywe kuwa balozi wa Afrika kwa masuala ya VVU/UKIMWI:

OPINION: I think @saidy_brown a #SouthAfrican should be made #Africa‘s ambassador for #HIV_AIDS to deliver speeches at international level.

— Wako Joel (@wakojoel) March 3, 2017

WAZO: Ninafikiri Saidy Brown raia wa Afrika Kusini afanywe kuwa Balozi wa Afrika wa masuala ya VVU/UKIMWI ili kutoa hotuba kwenye ngazi za kimataifa.

Msanii wa Uganda, Gitts Beats, alisema ujasiri wa Brown uwe mfano kwa wengine:

Sometimes We need to be original in everythin nd feel free 2 speak out our minds, If @saidy_brown said it yesterday then u can say it today pic.twitter.com/p3JPzH0Z3u

— GittsBeats (@gitts_beats) February 27, 2017

Wakati mwingine tunahitaji kuwa wakweli kwa kila tunachokifanya na kujisikia huru kusema mawazo yetu. Kama Saidy Brown alisema jana basi hata wewe unaweza kusema leo

Sibusiso Msesiwe aliandika:

@saidy_brown Just read your article.In tears as I'm burying my 2nd cousin due to the virus.
I'm so proud of you.
Keep rising.
Love you tons!

— Sibusiso Msesiwe (@SMsesiwe) March 2, 2017

Saidy Brown nimesoma makala yako kwa machozi kwa sababu ninamzika binamu yangu kwa sababu vya VVU.
Ninajisikia fahari kwa ajili yako.
Ng'ara dada.
Nakupenda sana!

Della Rovere alimshukuru Brown kwa werevu wake:

@saidy_brown you're my idol, girl!!! You're so amazing and powerful!!! Thank you for this lesson about life

— Della Rovere (@davies_kraft) March 3, 2017

Wewe ni shujaa wangu, dada!!! Wewe ni wa ajabu na una nguvu!!! Asante kwa somo hili kuhusu maisha

Mark Gamanya alimfikiria Brown kuwa shujaa wa wale wanaoishi na VVU kwa kuwasaidia kubadili mtazamo wa jamii kuhusu ugonjwa huo:

@saidy_brown no one is immune to HIV/AIDS you're a champion to those who live with the stigma, keep on educating to those who are clueless

— Mark Gamanya (@markgamanya) March 3, 2017

Hakuna mwenye kinga dhidi ya VVU/UKIMWI. Wewe ni shujaa kwa wale wanaonyanyapaliwa kwa sababu ya virusi hivi, Endelea kuwaelimisha wale wasioujua ukweli

Nguvu ya hamasa iliyotokana na andiko hilo la Brown imesikika duniani kote:

@saidy_brown I read your story on the BBC website.
You must be an amazing human being!
I wish you much peace, health and success. ?????

— Tiago Freitas (@_tifreitas) March 2, 2017

Nimesoma simulizi lako kwenye tovuti ya BBC.
Wewe lazima ni mtu asiye wa kawaida!
Ninakutakia amani tele, afya na mafanikio

Kama unapata shida kuelewa unyanyapaa dhidi ya wagonjwa VVU nchini Afrika Kusini, angalia swali lifuatalo kutoka aliloulizwa Brwon na mtumiaji wa Twita anayeficha jina lake:

@saidy_brown if you became HIV positive in a carnal way, were you going to be as brave as you are?

— Scotch (@MMaenza1) March 3, 2017

Kama ungeathirika na VVU kwa njia ya ngono, hivi ungekuwa na werevu ulionao sasa?

Kisha tazama majibu yake:

Yes. Does how a person got infected matter? I mean HIV is HIV. https://t.co/DSthQSYPja

— Saidy Brown (@saidy_brown) March 3, 2017

Ndio. Hivi suala ni namna gani umeambukizwa virusi? Ninamaanisha VVU ni VVU.

Kwa hakika, angalau mtumiaji mmoja wa mtandao wa Twita alilaani mantiki ya swali la MMaenza1:

I am sorry @MMaenza1 but how is your question going to help the global #HIV problem? I agree with @saidy_brown does how you got it matter?

— Hondred Percent (@hondredpercent) March 3, 2017

Samahani MMaenza1 lakini namna gani swali lako litasaidia kupambana na tatizo la ugonjwa wa UKIMWI? Ninakubaliana na Saidy Brown. Hivi inajalisha ni namna gani uliambukizwa na virusi vya UKIMWI?

Michael Très kutoka Marekani alikuwa na maoni yafuatayo:

@Nala_RSA @saidy_brown God bless you ! I think we are trying to let the world know that there is STILL life even in the darkest situations!

— Michael Très (@mtrestates) March 2, 2017

Mungu akubariki Saidy Brown. Nadhani unajaribu kuifanya dunia ijue kuwa BADO kuna maisha hata penye giza!