Hello readers! Welcome to the debut edition of a Page Each Day, a platform for sharing human interest stories with a view to encourage and inspire others, engender behavioural change and where necessary solicit support for those held deep in the quagmire of life and struggling to breathe. It is a place to share life experiences of those willing to tell their stories for the interest and development of society.
To commemorate the World AIDS Day with this year themed “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact”, this debut edition tells the story of a young man who contracted HIV/AIDS and upon finding out felt it was all over for him, but through continuous counselling, psychosocial support and care, as well as adherence to anti-retroviral therapy is living the life. Come with me!
Positive, yet Living the Life
As he walked down the road that fateful morning in high spirits to meet up with his guy, Jeff did not have the slightest inkling that the joy radiating deep from his inside would soon transform to sorrow and despair. He was hurrying off to wish his close friend and school mate, Jude a happy birthday and eat indomie from the Indomie Mallam beside Jude’s house. A lady flashed him a smile and asked if they could have a few minutes of his time. He had been taught from childhood that ‘if anyone calls you, he/she is greater than you.’ So, naturally, he gave her his attention. The lady, beautiful by all standards and with a sweet captivating voice started, “hello, my name is Lois, and these are my colleagues Jones and Rita.” “We’re carrying out an outreach to mark the World AIDS Day and as part of the activities, we’re conducting free counselling and HIV Testing.” As she spoke, Jeff thought to himself, “what does that have to do with me?” If not for her beautiful voice and smile, he would have simply blurted “not interested” and continued on his way, since he felt none of that had anything to do with him. Somehow, he felt reluctant to leave, even though he had no business there.
Jeff was a decent young man in his mid-20s, healthy, agile and good looking. He had just completed his university education and eagerly awaited his call up letter to proceed for the compulsory one year National Youth Service. While waiting, he engaged in small small businesses and at his level, he was a big boy. Above all, he was not the womanizing type. At 26, he had one girlfriend whom he felt shared reciprocal love with him. They fawned over each other, so, what business did he have with HIV/AIDS? “Okay”, he finally curbed his thoughts. “What do you want?” He asked. Lois caught up to the chase immediately, “when last did you get tested for HIV?” Jeff scratched his chin and ran his fingers through his neatly kept beards. “I can’t remember, but let me say… Okay, when I got admission into the university. That was 6 years back”, he said. Lois went on to outline the importance of knowing one’s HIV status and even though Jeff initially didn’t see the need, he was convinced to undergo the test.
Once done with the counselling session, Jeff submitted his blood sample for the test. Unexpectedly, a wave of uncertainty and anxiety swept through the once confident Jeff as he began to imagine, “what if the result comes out positive?” The 20 minutes wait seemed to be the longest he had experienced all his life. “Are you tensed?” Lois suddenly dragged him from his thoughts. He put up a smile to mask the fear that welled up within him at that time. Lois went back to the testing table and soon returned to commence another counselling session. When eventually his result was presented to him, Jeff felt a warm liquid seep down his legs and his body became too heavy for his legs to carry. He had peed on his pants! He collapsed to the floor and thought his end has come. “How?!” “How?!” he kept asking. Rita handed him a bottle of water with the hope to calm him while Lois reminded him of the need for a confirmatory test, and even where the confirmatory test came out positive, he could still live a normal life and actualise his dreams like anyone else.
“One of the best ways to fight stigma and empower HIV-positive people is by speaking out openly and honestly about who we are and what we experience.” —Alex Garner, HIV activist
Sure enough, the confirmatory test also came out positive when he visited the lab as referred by Lois. Jeff was devastated. He says, “I felt it was all over for me, it was my death sentence.” Lois and her team spoke with him and asked who he trusted most in his family, and with his consent, the result of his status was divulged to his mother. That was the beginning of hope because Jeff already contemplated suicide as soon as he returned home that day. With support from his mother and other family members as well as Lois and her team, life gradually returned to normal. He started taking anti-retrovirals and maintained a healthy lifestyle.
Today, Jeff is a happily married man with three children and has expanded his businesses. His wife and three children have all continuously tested negative to HIV. Jeff is not ashamed of his status. He shares his story and encourages others to go for test to confirm their statuses. By sharing his personal story, other persons living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to live positively. They are empowered with the knowledge that HIV is not a death sentence and people living with it should not be stigmatized against. Jeff says “With the right treatment and care, people living with HIV can live as long as the average person, so it’s important to take control of your health by getting a test.”
Do you know your HIV status? Get tested today
