On 29 June 2017,Dr Wisani Makhomisane posted on her facebook wall about HIV/AIDS saying she doesn't understand the stigma against HIV. This post really hit home that we all affected by this virus whether self or family. The stigma is still in existence in 2017 and we bury our loved ones because of lack of knowledge. It is high time people stop discriminating those living with HIV/AIDS, the only fool is you who refuse to learn. Ignorance is a serious disease that is deadly.It is said knowledge is power.
I once heard a doctor say that treat everyone as if they are HIV positive because the only person you can trust is YOU, honestly only you know your ins and outs. Married or not ensure that you always have protected sex, if that is not possible to use condoms because they are men who loves emotionally blackmailing women at least both of you make VCT testing a priority. The public clinics offers testing for free and if you want to do it in the comfort of your own house, tests are sold at pharmacies and Clicks, do yourself a favor and take charge of your health by knowing your status.
Stats say most married men are positive and girls between the ages of 14-25 years old and I asked myself how come and my answer is that married men are used to not using condoms with their wives so when they cheat they have that mentality and usually they cheat with young girls who are easily influenced not to use condoms and chances are that young girl has her single boyfriend as she knows that Blesser is married and not fully available yet they go skin to skin. Their reasoning is that condoms are like sweets, how can one eat a wrapped sweet which the logic is twisted. Men are naturally selfish being so women don't be naive, wise up. Remember these Stats are only for those who got tested.
No one has HIV written on their foreheads so take ownership of your sex life and health. Most people were infected by someone they trusted, let's stop this belief that HIV is for the promiscuous. We have lots of people who only sleeps with one person but got infected.
HIV has since became an manageable disease, that do not kill. People must stop looking at it as if it is a death sentence. Like I have said we know someone who is infected and how we respond to the news says a lot about us. Cancer is non-manageable or else it was discovered in the early stages but HIV even if the CD4 count is low taking medication ARV as per prescription and leading a healthy life people get to live even longer. Being scared of what people will say when they see you taking the meds will kill you cause the people that you are scared of might be even positive the difference is you know your status and you are taking charge of your life and the other don't know their status. Once you are off pills and you are sick those people you were scared of will know that you are positive and will be mocking you even more that you are a fool not to take medication and live.
I have met people in my life that are angry with the world and are on an infecting spree, yes people will be infected but you are actually sending yourself to your early grave. One can still have sex but must have protected sex, take medication and aim for an undetectable viral load.
Traditional healers all they want is money, they will tell you all the mumbo jumbos and give you herbs and tell you, you have been bewitched blah blah. If you strongly believe in those it is fine but make sure you take the ARVs along with your herbs cause lots of deaths were caused by these beliefs.
There are lots of HIV campaigns and December the 1st has been set aside for awareness but we still have deaths. This is one topic people hate and this is a life saving topic. We as people need to get off our comfort zone and educate ourselves. I find it disturbing if a mother will be angry at a teenager being pregnant, a baby should be less of our concern cause baby can still be raised and mommy go back to school. As parents we should be concerned that our children are having unprotected sex.
How I wish the government can freely give the preventative meds for free (PrEp) same as they give condoms and ARVs for free. People have idolized sex that abstinence has become very impossible. We have pregnancy preventative pills that are freely issued. As Africans we have proven that even without finances we can still raise kids so let's be proactive and free issue PrEp.
However PrEp does not replace condoms one can must both.
One can ask how come Kulani knows a lot, to answer your question is that I am not allergic to reading especially topics that finish our people. My prayer is that God heal every HIV infected person and end this disease like He did leprosy in the bible. God has promised us in Psalms 91 that such diseases won't come near our tent. Today I wanted to encourage someone who is living with HIV or affected by HIV. Those infected, please do take medication if it makes you sick go back to the clinic so that they change your medication until they find the right medication for you but in my belief just like any medication when it kicks in it makes one sick until it gets used to your system. Those that are affected, be a pillar of strength and offer both emotional and physical support, your loved one needs you.
Those that are mocking, remember that the last laugh is the loudest so make sure that it won't be on you.
South Africa has been said to have the highest HIV rate, we can take control only if we unite and do this. Get tested, know your status and do the right thing. If positive take meds,use condoms and stay healthy, if negative continue using condoms and test.
These posts must not wait for 1 December, it must be shared everytime
Useful links:
http://www.whatisprep.org/
http://www.hivselftest.co.za
http://i-base.info/ttfa/section-3/
https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa
https://www.tbfacts.org/hiv-statistics-south-africa/
https://www.avert.org/about-hiv-aids/what-hiv-aids
http://www.thewellproject.org/hiv-information/myths-about-hiv
