WORLD AIDS/HIV DAY
Dec 1, 2024
Story
Seeking
Action

margizuu
Joined Nov 11, 2023

Photo Credit: Margizuu
LIVING WITH HIV TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE PROTECTION AND ALWAYS GET TESTED
As world marks international world AIDS day today 1st of December and with the rising cases of HIV/AIDS in Kenya which mark 40years since the first case was reported i was lucky to be invited to an event to create awareness about the importance of practicing fase sex , getting tested every time you suspect your sexually active or you had careless sexual activities that exposed you to the virus . the event was very fruitful because it was attended by so many people that wanted to know more about HIV/AIDS stigma in the community . the event had different activities including donating blood to hospitals , donating breast milk for babies that are in ER but before they would do it the volunteers would be tested free willingly then they would donate for a cause. i manage to have a chat with few people living with HIV/AIDS they shared with me a powerful stories of living with the stigma and discrimination so mary not her real name narrated this to me she contacted HIV at 11 when she went for a sleep over they played this game called do or dare it was all about engaging in sexual activities with older guys for once i got shocked !! remembering at 11 i was innocent and a child playing with her doll and longing to grow up that was just me !! she tell me that was her first sexual encounter and thats how she got HIV after she got very sick and her mother decided to take her to clinic the doctor asked her mother is your daughter sexually active , the mother was like no!! my girl is not into those yet but deep down the girl tell me she wished her mother knew how a know it all she is . so the doctor told the mother that they were going to take the HIV test the mother was very positive about the results . mary tells me her mother was shocked after the results were out the mother fainted .... but mary tell me after her diagnosis she started advocating to reduce the stigma around HIV I her school by speaking at school and conference she say it was not easy because most of her friends did not want anything to do with her , she was the talk of school but the negative feedback did not hold her back she continued to be a young HIV activist in her school and her community . Mary's experience left me wondering how may young school ging children are sexually active behind their parents back!! my neighbor 8 year old little girl is pregnant as we speak were did we go wrong as society , are we not doing enough teaching kids about sex education or is it too much freedom we have given our kids to do what the western world are doing. is it the free internet and access to technology is teaching young children how to do adult activities .i have realized that the god old days are long gone immorality has taken over our society , our schools , our churches , our homes the children of today are being brought up with the pressure of technology and fantasy world ... the evolution of HIV and the wide spread of awareness has help families live together with people living with HIV/AIDS unlike in the 90's were it was rare to touch a person with the virus i bet millions died alone just like what we witnessed with COVID 19 pandemic it took creating awareness to let people realize that it was not that bad . i still ask myself try to imagine if HIV/AIDS or COVID19 was affecting Africans do you think the boarders would be open to date!!! my answer is no !!. story for another day guys !! so HIV/AIDS day was a day to educate people who take things for granted about engaging in sex without protection my friend tell me her wife infected her with the virus he only found out after he started feeling very sick for no reasons only for him to be told he was HIV positive he slip into depression tried to deny it but that denial almost cost him his life he tells me he grew very thin , weak and helpless thats wen people started noticing him being thin full of bones . thats when he decided to go to therapy by accepting his diagnosis started his treatment without missing any medication and eating proper food suggested by the doctor and in six months he was back to normal healthy health . he is now a very strong advocate for HIV/AIDS in the community his near death experience motivated him to help others . his impact has been felt by many in the community i was happy to hear his name being mentioned as an inspiration to others .i was lucky to hang out with him and i told him that we need to plant trees together to celebrate his achievements that he agreed to so i look forward to my tree planting event with him . HIV/AIDS should never stop you from having fun or doing events with people who are not HIV positive .the stigma of HIV are long gone this days people with HIV live for years without dying just from taking prevention measures shared by professional doctors. the rise of HIV in Kenya in younger people is a pandemic to me and its alarming because this are the future leaders what will this generation be like a country full of HIV, infections nobody will be able to donate blood or breast milk because everyone will be HIV positive , its time the government re -introduce sex education in schools i don't know why it was stopped because now babies are having adult activities without protection or guide from adults . my day was well spent i made a big difference