Abantu Abaselula Bayabuza . . .

UGawulayo—Ngaba Ndisengozini?

IPHEPHANCWADI iNewsweek lathi esi saziso ‘salikhwankqisa ihlabathi.’ NgoNovemba 7, 1991, umdlali odumileyo waseUnited States uEarvin “Magic” Johnson waxelela amajelo eendaba ukuba unentsholongwane kaGawulayo. Xa kwavakala esi sibhengezo sixhomis’ amehlo, iminxeba yangena ingenile kumaziko anikela inkcazelo ngoGawulayo. Zimbi izibhedlele zaziphuphuma zizicelo zokuxilongelwa uGawulayo. Bambi abantu bade bathob’ isantya ngakwihambo evakalala—phofu ke okomzuzwana.

Mhlawumbi abona babekhathazeke ngakumbi sesi saziso yayingabantu abaselula. Umphathi weenkonzo zempilo kwenye iyunivesithi uthi: “Abafundi bacingisisa nzulu ngamazwi athi ‘ukuba oku kwenzekile kuye, kunokwenzeka nakum’—okwethutyana. . . . Kwinkoliso yabafundi, okwenzeke kuMagic Johnson akuthethi ukuba benza iinguqulelo kwihambo yabo. Sekunjalo bacinga ukuba ‘akukho nto inokwenzeka kubo.’”

IBhayibhile yaxela kwangaphambili ukuba amaxesha esiphila kuwo aya kuphawulwa ‘ziindyikitya zokufa,’ oko kukuthi, izifo ezisasazeka ngomlinganiselo ophakamileyo. (Luka 21:11) Ngokuqinisekileyo kunokuthiwa uGawulayo yindyikitya yokufa. EUnited States kwathabatha iminyaka esibhozo—ukususela kunyaka we-1981 ukusa kowe-1989—ukuze kufunyaniswe i-100 000 lokuqala lamaxhoba kaGawulayo. Kodwa yaba yiminyaka emibini kuphela ngaphambi kokuba kunikelwe ingxelo ye-100 000 lesibini lamaxhoba akhe!

Ngokutsho kwamaZiko Okuthintela Izifo aseUnited States, eli nani “linxunguphalisayo libonisa umlinganiselo owanda ngawo okomlilo wedobo ubhubhani [onguGawulayo] eUnited States.” Phofu ke, uGawulayo ngubhubhani okulo lonke ihlabathi, obangela indyikitya yokufa nosizi ukutyhubela iAfrika, iAsia, iYurophu kwanoMzantsi Merika. Ngenxa yoku, uGqr. Marvin Belzer weSibhedlele Sabantwana saseLos Angeles umchaza uGawulayo ngokuthi “yeyona ngxaki yoyikekayo ejamelene nolutsha kwiminyaka yee-1990.”

Isifo Esingena Ngendlela Echuliweyo

Kanye kanye siyintoni esi sifo singaqhelekanga, ibe kutheni siyingozi kangaka nje? Oogqirha bakholelwa ekubeni uGawulayo ubakho xa isuntswana elincinane gqitha—intsholongwane ekuthiwa yiHIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)—ingena egazini. Yakuba ingenile, le ntsholongwane iqalisa umsebenzi wayo wokutshabalalisa ngokukhethekileyo iiseli ezimhlophe zegazi eziveliswa ngumzimba, ezo zincedisayo nezibizwa ngokuba ziiT cells. Ezi seli ziphumeza indima ebalulekileyo yokunceda umzimba ekuwukhuseleni kwisifo. Noko ke, intsholongwane kaGawulayo izenza zingasebenzi, ize itshabalalise inkqubo yomzimba yokuzikhusela kwizifo.

Kusenokudlula ithuba elithile ngaphambi kokuba umntu owasulelwe sesi sifo azive egula. Bambi basenokungabonakalisi zimpawu phantse iminyaka elishumi. Kodwa ekuhambeni kwexesha kuvela iimpawu ezifana nezomkhuhlane—ukuwutha komzimba nokungabi namdla wakutya, ukuba nobushushu nokuhambisa kwesisu. Njengoko inkqubo yomzimba yokuzikhusela kwizifo iya iphelelwa, ixhoba lichanabeka ekwasulelweni zizifo ezininzi—isifo sokukrala kwemiphunga, esokukrala kwenwebu yobuchopho, isifo sephepha, okanye iintlobo ezithile zomhlaza—ekuthiwa zikhetha amathuba kuba zisebenzisa ithuba ezilifumanayo elibangelwe kukuphela kwamandla exhoba okuxhathisa kwizifo.

Elinye ixhoba likaGawulayo elineminyaka engama-20 ubudala lithi, “Ndisoloko ndisentlungwini.” Esi sifo sibangele izilonda kubholobholo nakumngxuma wakhe wangasemva. Noko ke, uGawulayo osele ebonakala uthetha okungakumbi kunokungonwabi nentlungu; kuba phantse kuwo onke amaxhoba akhe, uthetha ukufa. Ukususela ngowe-1981 eUnited States kuphela le ntsholongwane isasazeke kubantu abangaphezu kwesigidi. Sithetha nje abangaphezu kwe-160 000 sebefile. Iingcali zicingela ukuba ngowe-1995, inani labantu abafayo liya kuliphinda kabini eli. Okwangoku uGawulayo akanyangeki.

Ulutsha Lusengozini

Ukuza kuthi ga ngoku, mncinane kakhulu umlinganiselo wamaxhoba kaGawulayo ekunikelwe ingxelo ngawo—eUnited States ungaphantsi kwe-1 ekhulwini—obandakanya ulutsha. Ngoko ke, kusenokuba akukho namnye omaziyo oselula obulewe sesi sifo. Oku akuthethi ukuba ulutsha alukho ngozini! EUnited States malunga nomntu omnye kwabahlanu kumaxhoba kaGawulayo ukwiminyaka yakhe yama-20. Ekubeni kuthabatha iminyaka emininzi ukuze iimpawu zibonakale, kunokwenzeka ukuba uninzi lwabo lwasulelwa ngoxa lwalukwiminyaka yalo yeshumi elivisayo. Ukuba luyaqhubeka nale hambo, amawaka angakumbi olutsha aza kuba zizisulu zikaGawulayo.

Ngokutsho kwamaZiko Okuthintela Izifo aseUnited States, le ntsholongwane iyingozi ithi nca ngokufihlakeleyo “egazini, kumadlozi, nakulwelo lwelungu lesini lomntu obhinqileyo kubantu abasulelwe siso.” Ngoko ke, iHIV idluliselwa “ngokuba neentlobano zesini—eziqhelekileyo, ezenziwa ezimpundwini okanye emlonyeni—nomntu onayo.” Abaninzi basifumene ngale ndlela esi sifo. Kwakhona uGawulayo unokudluliselwa “ngokusebenzisa okanye ngokuhlatywa ngenaliti okanye isirinji ebesisetyenziswe ngumntu okanye kumntu onaye.” Ngokubhekele phaya, “bambi abantu basulelwe ngokutofela igazi” elineHIV.—Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing: Facts, Issues, and Answers.

Ngoko ke uninzi lwabantu abaselula lusengozini. Ulutsha oluninzi (bambi bathi eUnited States lunokude lube ngama-60 ekhulwini) lusebenzisa iziyobisi ezingekho mthethweni. Ekubeni zimbi zezi ziyobisi zitofelwa, ingozi yokwasuleleka ngenaliti inkulu kakhulu. Ngokusuka kolunye uhlolisiso lwaseUnited States, ama-82 ekhulwini abafundi abakwisikolo semfundo ephakamileyo aye asebenzisa iziselo ezinxilisayo, ngoku bamalunga nama-50 ekhulwini abazisebenzisayo. Awasulelwa nguGawulayo ngokusela inkonkxa yebhiya, kodwa emva kokuba uyiselile isenokuyonakalisa indlela ozijonga ngayo izinto yaye kusenokwenzeka ngakumbi ukuba ubandakanyeke kweyona hambo iyingozi—ukuziphatha okuvakalala ngokwesini, ubufanasini okanye iintlobano zesini nomntu wesini esahlukileyo.

Ngowe-1970 amantombazana angaphantsi kwesi-5 ekhulwini ane-15 leminyaka ubudala aye aneentlobano zesini. Ngowe-1988 elo nani liye lantinga laya kutsho ngaphezu kwama-25 ekhulwini. Kwakhona njengoko uhlolisiso lubonisa, kwiminyaka engama-20 ubudala, amantombazana angama-75 ekhulwini nabafana abangama-86 ekhulwini baba neentlobano zesini eUnited States. Nalu olunye uhlolisiso lwamanani olothusayo: Phantse umntu omnye kwabahlanu abakwishumi elivisayo uye waneentlobano zesini namaqabane angaphezu kwamane. Ewe, ulutsha olungakumbi lubandakanyeka kwisini sangaphambi komtshato, ibe luqalisa luseluncinane kakhulu kunangaphambili.

Kwenzeka okufanayo nakwamanye amazwe. Kumazwe aseMzantsi nakuMbindi Merika, abantu abathathu kwabane kulutsha olukwishumi elivisayo babandakanyeka kwiintlobano zesini zangaphambi komtshato. Kumazwe aseAfrika kuye kwanikelwa ingxelo yokuba amadoda amaninzi akhetha ukuba neentlobano zesini namantombazana akwishumi elivisayo ukuze azikhusele kwintsholongwane kaGawulayo. Yintoni umphumo woko? Kukwanda kwamaxhoba kaGawulayo phakathi kwamantombazana aseAfrika akwishumi elivisayo.

Ukusasazeka kukaGawulayo akukhange kwenze nto ingako ukuthintela eli khondo lehambo etshabalalisayo. Khawuqwalasele elinye ilizwe laseMzantsi-Mbindi Merika. Abangaphezu kwama-60 ekhulwini “kubantu abaselula abangatshatanga ababandakanyeka kwiintlobano zesini bakwingozi enkulu yokufumana intsholongwane kaGawulayo.” Noko ke, abangaphantsi kwe-10 ekhulwini banoluvo lokuba basengozini. Bazixelela oku: ‘Akusokuze kwenzeke kum.’ Kodwa eli lizwe “lelinye lamazwe anemilinganiselo ephakamileyo yabantu abaneHIV kumazwe aseMerika.”—amaZiko Okuthintela Izifo aseUnited States.

Kunokwenzeka Ube Naye!

Ubhubhani onguGawulayo ubonisa indlela eziyinyaniso ngayo izilumkiso zeBhayibhile zokuba “ukuphela” kokuziphatha okubi ngokwesini “kukrakra njengomhlonyane.” (IMizekeliso 5:3-5; 7:21-23) Kakade ke, ngokuyintloko iBhayibhile ibhekisela ekonakaleni ngokomoya nangokweemvakalelo. Kodwa asifanele simangaliswe kukuba ukuziphatha okubi ngokwesini kunemiphumo emininzi eyonakalisayo kwanasemzimbeni.

Ngoko ke, kubalulekile ukuba abantu abaselula bacingisise nzulu ngengozi yokwasulelwa nguGawulayo kunye nezinye izifo ezidluliselwa ngeentlobano zesini. Ukuba nesimo sengqondo sokuzithemba ngelithi ‘akunakwenzeka ndibe naye’ uGawulayo kunokungqineka kuyingozi. Umfana ogama linguDavid wathi, “Xa uneminyaka elishumi elinesihlanu okanye elinesithandathu okanye kwaneminyaka elishumi elinesixhenxe, elishumi elinesibhozo, elinethoba okanye engamashumi amabini ubudala, usenokukholelwa ekubeni ukhuselekile.” Noko ke, izibakala zibonakala zingavumelani noko. UDavid waba nentsholongwane kaGawulayo eneminyaka eli-15 ubudala.

Ngoko, ngeliphandle: Ukuba usebenzisa iziyobisi ezingekho mthethweni okanye ubandakanyeka kwiintlobano zesini zangaphambi komtshato, usengozini! Noko ke, kuthekani ngeengxelo zokuba uthile unokubandakanyeka ‘kwisini esikhuselekileyo’? Ngaba kukho iindlela zokwenene zokuzikhusela kulo bhubhani? Le mibuzo iza kuxutyushwa kwinqaku lethu elilandelayo lolu ngcelele.

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 22]

Ezinye Izifo Ezidluliselwa Ngesini

UGawulayo uye wakwimixholo ephambili yeendaba. Noko ke, iThe Medical Post iyalumkisa: ‘IKhanada isemngciphekweni wobhubhani weSTD [sexually transmitted disease (isifo esidluliselwa ngesini)] ofumaneka kwabo bafikisayo.’ AsiyoKhanada kuphela. IZiko Eliphanda Ngezinto Ezithandwa Ngabantu elisekwe eUnited States lithi, “Nyaka ngamnye izigidi ezi-2,5 zabaselula eUnited States zasulelwa yiSTD. Eli nani libonisa ukuba malunga nomntu omnye kwabathandathu kwabakwishumi elivisayo ubandakanyeka kwiintlobano zesini nokuba omnye kwabahlanu ulixhoba leSTD.”

Ngokomzekelo, igcushuwa ekwakukhe kwacingwa ukuba ithe shwaka, iye yagaleleka kwakhona kwiminyaka yakutshanje, iyazenzela nje kubantu abaselula abaninzi. Idropsi nechlamydia (ezona STD zixhaphakileyo eUnited States) ngokufanayo zibonakala zixhathisa ngendlela engaqhelekanga kwiindlela zokuzama ukuzithintela. Yaye abo bafikisayo basulelwa ngomlinganiselo ophakame kakhulu zezi zifo. Ngokufanayo iThe New York Times inikel’ ingxelo “yokuntinga okukhawulezileyo” kwenani labakwishumi elivisayo abasulelwe sisifo seentsumpa eziphuma kumalungu okuzala. Kwakhona amawaka abaselula anentsholongwane iherpes. Ngokutsho kweScience News, “abantu abaneherpes yamalungu okuzala basengozini enkulu yokwasulelwa [yiHIV], ebangela uGawulayo.”

Iziko Eliphanda Ngezinto Ezithandwa Ngabantu lithi: “Nakubeni amanani abo bafikisayo abane-STD entingile kunalo naliphi na elinye iqela lobudala, kusenokuba abalufumani unyango lwezamayeza. Ukuba abaxilongwa ukuze zifunyaniswe zize zinyangwe, iiSTD zibangela umonakalo omkhulu wesifo sokutshotshozela kabukhali kwamarhorho, ubudlolo, ukukhulelwa okwenzeka ngaphandle kwesibeleko kunye nomhlaza wesibeleko.”

[Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 20, 21]

Nabani na otofela iziyobisi ezingekho mthethweni okanye obandakanyeka kwihambo evakalala ngokwesini usengozini enzulu yokuba noGawulayo