A Day That Changed Everything
I recall the anticipation vividly. The lab technician had briefed me: one line for negative, two for positive. Friends had shared similar experiences, all with negative results. The waiting, they said, was the hardest part, filled with tension but eventually leading to relief.
As the technician, an engaging young woman, spoke, I half-planned to ask her out, unaware of the turn my day was about to take. The test began, and with each passing second, my anxiety grew. Her expression shifted subtly, prompting my heart to race. She consulted with her senior, a tall man with a distinguished white beard. They decided to repeat the test. The results were conclusive: I was HIV positive.
The journey back to my hostel felt endless, plagued with worry and fear. How would I face my mother? Should I leave school? Thankfully, a counsellor later provided me with valuable education and support.
Understanding HIV
HIV targets and weakens the immune system, our body’s defense against infections. This leaves individuals vulnerable to opportunistic infections, which generally don’t affect healthy people.
Living with HIV
Today, HIV is not a death sentence. With regular medication and health check-ups, those living with HIV can lead normal, fulfilling lives.
Confronting Stigma
Stigma around HIV remains a challenge. Education about transmission and prevention is vital in building a supportive community.
Life, Love, and HIV
Being HIV positive doesn’t mean abstaining from intimate relationships. It’s crucial to inform partners and practice safe sex. With consistent medication, the viral load can be significantly reduced, lowering transmission risk. Post-exposure prophylaxis is also available for accidental exposures.
My Role in the HIV Community
We all have a role in fighting HIV: educating others, practicing safe sex, and avoiding stigmatization. Prevention remains key, as there’s currently no cure. Community education can help reduce stigma and misinformation. Remember, HIV isn’t spread by casual contact. Our collective effort can make a difference in preventing and managing HIV.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS day is ‘Let communities lead!
It emphasizes the influence of communities on HIV response and global health. People as individuals and communities will have to ensure a safe space for people and also be at the forefront of testing, prevention and treatment support services
The need for AIDS awareness day is essential as HIV infection is currently incurable, but one can control it with good quality education about the disease, especially in rural areas. It was once an unmanageable chronic health condition, but now, with advances in HIV prevention, diagnosis, manage, and care including for opportunistic infections, people with HIV can live long, and healthy lives