Longest HIV survivor rides through Erongo

THE longest known survivor of HIV in the world, Andre van Zijl (62) of South Africa, visited the coast recently to speak to high school learners about HIV and abstinence.

‘I was in Namibia last year and I promised I would come back this time and speak to the children across Namibia,’ he said.Van Zijl believes he was infected with HIV in the late 1970’s, but ‘by the grace of God’, he is still surviving, and being used to spread a message of hope.’The only safe sex is to live according to the principles as laid down in the Word of God’, it says at the bottom of a small brochure he hands out.After the coast, he would ride with his bicycle to Tsumeb and Grootfontein and then northward, and eventually to the Caprivi. According to him, since his arrival in Namibia on January 4, he has spoken to over 8 000 people.He said that his ‘mission’ started when he found out that he was infected.’I could have either committed suicide or do something for society,’ he said.By choosing the latter, he has managed to reach out to millions of people around the world on every continent.’People must try not to get infected. Some governments are still in total denial when it comes to the disease and even believe that it is diminishing, but in South Africa alone they are burying 2 000 per day. People don’t die of Aids, but because of it. Should you be infected, live full out but do not go around infecting. Rather use a gun or a knife – then they can lock you up. Murder stays murder, regardless of how one kills. That’s why people should know their status,’ said Van Zijl.What makes this man’s mission even more interesting is that he’s travelled on his bicycle for over 40 000 kilometres, and is also the holder of 39 officially recognizable world records which includes climbing Table Mountain with roller-skates; playing chess for 150 hours; roller skating from London to Edinburg (900km) in seven days; devouring 150 pieces of sushi in ten minutes; drinking 20 liters of milkshakes in four hours; and working a rowing machine for 100 hours.

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