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FIRST Zambian To Declare HIV/AIDS Positive Status Publicly Dies Aged 47
The First Zambian Person who declared his HIV/AIDS positive Status in Public in 1990 has died at age 47 .
Mr Winstone died today Wednesday morning at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an illness.
The late Mr Winstone Zulu was born in 1964 in Lusaka, the sixth born in a family of thirteen children. After being diagnosed with HIV in 1990, he became the first individual in Zambia to publicly acknowledge his HIV status.
In 1997, he contracted TB and, with access to effective medicines and treatment, was cured of the disease within that same year.
Today, two-thirds of all Zambians suffering from tuberculosis are also HIV positive, a deadly combination which cuts one’s life span needlessly short.
Winstone knew from experience the devastation this co-epidemic can cause. Tragically, he watched his four brothers
die from TB as a result of a lack of access to the anti-TB drugs that would have cured them and extended their lives.
These experiences made Winstone one of the prominent global advocates on the dangers posed by the increasing spread of TB.
As one of the few African activists who was involved in the global health movement on AIDS from its earliest stages, he was able to recognize the threat that TB poses on the modest successes of HIV/AIDS control.
Nelson Mandela said of Winstone, “There have been so few TB survivors who have stepped forward to share their stories. We need more advocates like Winstone to tell the world about TB and the effect it has on so many millions of people.”
“TB treatment gives patients more time. If my brothers had survived TB they might have lived long enough to access HIV drugs like me. They shouldn’t have died.”-Winstone Zulu
Winstone’s experiences and actions made him a leader in TB advocacy and spoke volumes to the social attention and political will that can be generated by just one individual using his voice.
Posted by Editor
on October 12, 2011. Filed under HEADLINES, LATEST NEWS.
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osborn mutapa
October 13, 2011 at 8:07 am
Rest in peace you were an inspiration to the young generation of HIV/AIDS advocates.yours was a life worth leaving and you have indeed left a legacy.SLEEP IN PEACE
bragadino
October 13, 2011 at 8:22 am
Hero Winstone -MYSRIP – You were a blessing!
Hey ba Bigga ma figga,Kwateniko amano!Why ukumpotela Sex when you also need a ****!Our basis for life should not be Fear of Death but LIFE itself, and remember that Sex has been around for as long as we came into existence.And for your own info people die more in Africa from other diseases than AIDS.Research is there to show.If you have Cholera for 3months I guarantee you die,but if you were HIV+,most likely you gonna live for the rest of your life,30 years +/-.Abash stigmata!And actually what seems to be killing people has got nothing to do with sex but lack of knowledge.Ask Thabo Mbeki he will tell you.Lyashi ilitali.You may even discover that SEX has got very little to do with AIDS.Here mu Africa ba Ma figga,AIDS is a myriad of complexities.So te cheating of wives and devils like you ponti!Here in ZED for instance,we know very little of diseases like Gornorrhea and other STIs,and these are real killer diseases.UN seems to do very little about malaria and aka swende but talk more of AIDS which has very little answers.So far what I know is that AIDS is a confusing disease,but more money spent on the fully unknown than the known and harmful(Other dizizez).So pliz do your own research on these issues.Infact what kills people is not diseases but “LACK OF KNOWLEDGE”.Hosea 4:6.So simply we ZEDIANS may die more compared to guys in advanced NATIONS,for real!!!!!!!!So ba ma figga,just improve your sex life and someone will stop cheating on you.If you perform badly,definately some1 MUST run away from some1 coz sex is a natural need like water/Vitamin D, no matter how prayerful you may be.Actually as a “PONTIFF GENERALLE CAPITANAS(High Priests/men of God)” we need it more for good preaching.At least I never trained myself to have an ERECTION,is it ELECTION? but God gave one at birth.AM thankful to HIM for that and I dont bind it but loose it more! DISLAIMER : This is not intended as Medical advice.Am no Doc hey!
oscar
October 13, 2011 at 8:28 am
may his soul rest in peace winstone you were a great inspiration to the nation and africa as whole you were a role model of this century you gave hope to the hopeless individuals you are my hero hamba kahle mufuwetu
DK
October 13, 2011 at 8:32 am
NOSENSE BIG FIGGA U ARE AN ***** WHO IS HONEST
Chimutali
October 13, 2011 at 8:34 am
You will be missed Mbuya by alot, but you will be rembered by your courageous and works. MYSRIP
hotchick
October 13, 2011 at 8:43 am
MHSRIEP
1 gunner
October 13, 2011 at 8:43 am
Yendani bwino malume. U fot a gud battle, God will surely reward u.
bj
October 13, 2011 at 9:06 am
MYSRIP mr Zulu,yu wl be missed O round.
Tripoli
October 13, 2011 at 9:11 am
Rest in peace you are my HERO.God be with you good work.
amaka
October 13, 2011 at 9:22 am
RIP
Aba pondo
October 13, 2011 at 9:26 am
I just hope you recognised him when he was alive…MHSRIP, personally I never heard about you but you are a life saver!
Aba pondo
October 13, 2011 at 9:27 am
you must be a big hater even in times like this?
MBOVU J
October 13, 2011 at 9:38 am
HE WHO KNOWS NOT AND KNOWS NOT THAT HE KNOWS NOT IS A FOOL, BUT HE WHO KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS NOT IS WISE, TEACH HIM. LET US KNOW OUR STATUS AND IF WE DONT LET US NOT FEEL SHY TO ASK. TEACH THE LITTLE U KNOW IT MAY SAVE SOMEONES LIFE. GOD BLESS
Nsansa
October 13, 2011 at 9:58 am
Mbuya, you have helped many people live HIV positive lives positively. You also advocated for donor funding that has benefited many. may you rest in peace. to you and me reading this, what choices are we making for our lives?
Percy
October 13, 2011 at 10:05 am
MHSRIP
Mwanakabvwambi
October 13, 2011 at 10:32 am
Sometimes you may wonder where the great lesson lies – in life on death. Life’s lessons no matter how you reason applies to the living as the dead are no longer conscious of anything, neither of their aspirations nor their desires.
The living have a resposibilty to live responsibly, to ‘love thy neighbour’, to care for the environment and to remember always that we are held accountable for our actions(by God).
Winstone’s life and death accord us the chance to relook our lives, to examine our loves, our fears, our happiness, our dreams…
Like a colleague has indicated above “When we know that we don’t know”, we open ourselves for life’s lessons, we are teachable.
immediatley
October 13, 2011 at 10:49 am
Sorry the man did his best to contribute to the fight against AIDS and stigma condolences.
Islander
October 13, 2011 at 11:43 am
Winstone MYSRIP
Pik
October 13, 2011 at 11:48 am
You ve really inspired me, I hate the way we live our lives 2day as if there is a spare live in the reserve tank. But your advise and Eph 5:32 and Heb 12:15 has strengthened me 2day, may God grant u mo wisdom.
Angie
October 13, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Realy you were a brave person 2 come out in open in those days when people used to hide. We shall meet on the other side. MYSRIEP
Mourner
October 13, 2011 at 12:16 pm
He championed a good cause!
Frank Chisamanga
October 13, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Very couragious and inspiring. You encouranged thousands to go for VCT and ART/V. You were only human and like every else time came… but you fought a good fight and it has shown 21+years living HIV positive. MYSRIP
[email protected]
October 13, 2011 at 12:44 pm
May his Soul rest in eternal peace.He was really a great role model in HIV/AIDS.
concerned zambian
October 13, 2011 at 1:48 pm
MYSRIP, you are such an inspiration, 21+ who knows even the cure might be found during this duration. My God the Almighty receive your soul with both hands, condolences to the relatives.
Adade
October 13, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Winstone will be sadly missed. For me, he put a Zambian face to HIV/AIDS. He triumphed over HIV for 2 decades – death where is your sting! Winstone’s life was inspiring. I will miss him for his courage, determination, eloquence and humor. we fondly called him ‘professor’. MHSRIP
Semi-competent, ill, clumsy pit-bull
October 13, 2011 at 3:11 pm
One gallant son of the soil has gone. MHSRIEP
correctedZ
October 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm
Rest in Peace big man. Your courage saved thousands, if not millions of zambians and even in death you are saving, and will save some. A lot of us had initially mistaken and misunderstood your bold move 21 years ago but down the rugged road you showed us you ARE a worthy saint! RIEP
annie
October 13, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Rest in peace, you ran a good race.
maria
October 13, 2011 at 3:56 pm
mmmh mafiga nayiwe so uncalled for!
maria
October 13, 2011 at 3:57 pm
well said
Rk
October 13, 2011 at 4:19 pm
MHSRIP
A.B.K
October 13, 2011 at 4:19 pm
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE, HE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO MANY WITH HIS COURAGE,STRENGTH,MOTIVATIONAL TALKS, HIS OPENNESS TO MENTION A FEW.MA MEMORY IS VERY FRESH WHEN YOU HAD MOTIVATIONAL TALKS WITH I.K @ SMOOTH TALK
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE
lorato
October 13, 2011 at 4:35 pm
its sad that you had to die,good people always leave first so that they bad ones may have time to leave an impact or repent in short.it takes they brave and saved to open up to disclose their status.you must have had chanllages big time.it was not easy been the first.may your soul rest in peace.may God comfort they family and friends,including Zambia as a nation.
Jack Silwimba
October 13, 2011 at 6:57 pm
We surely miss you mr.Zulu.MYSRIP
Tk
October 13, 2011 at 9:03 pm
May his soul rest i peace!
Mummy
October 15, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Yu fought a good battle Winstone! You inspired many! You used all you had including your humor. Fiercely championing the cause and I quote, ‘Life is not a pilot’ to warrant hordes of pilot projets. You live one life and we need all to access the much needed ART! That was you! Winstone, MYSRIP!