When someone says AIDS, a 65-year-old grandmother may not be the first person that comes to mind.
“I’m 65 years old, a widow, a friend, a grandmother, and yes, I am HIV positive,” said Anna Fowlkes, an advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and a motivational speaker.
When Fowlkes was 59, she began noticing unusual chronic fatigue and became worried that something was wrong. She decided to go to the doctor and was tested for HIV/AIDS.
“Getting infected as a senior citizen opened my eyes that HIV is still prevalent, and somebody needed to speak out,” Fowlkes said. “It looks like your grandmother, it’s your next door neighbor, the person sitting next to you in class. There is no look.”
Fowlkes spoke Tuesday night at an event titled “My Grandma has AIDS,” which was presented by the Black Student Cultural Programming Board as part of Black History Month.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2009, African-Americans make up 14 percent of the United States population but account for 44 percent of all new HIV infections.
“HIV has not gone anywhere, it is still prevalent, it is still a pandemic, and I think education is the only way to inform everybody that they need to get tested and know your status,” Fowlkes said. “Knowledge is power.”
As Fowlkes presented her story about how she became HIV positive and the aftermath, she reiterated the importance of getting tested and the fact that although the virus is incurable, a positive diagnosis is not a death sentence.
“Fortunately, I was psychologically prepared,” Fowlkes said. “I had been exposed, and I understood it was not a death sentence and being older made it easier because I knew getting older I would get something.”
Bree Dysart, a junior studying acting, said she was surprised to hear Fowlkes’ story.
“Before I came here tonight, I didn’t know senior citizens were getting HIV at later ages,” Dysart said.
Dysart said that Fowlkes also kept the tone light, which only served to make her story even more inspiring.
“I definitely loved the humor, and I am excited to know that there are people like Anna Fowlkes who want to share their story and bring awareness to the issue,” she said
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