The first time I learned of HIV/AIDS was in 1992 while in Standard 2, at that time it seemed like just another disease we had to learn about for our Health Education subject. As years went by, life orinetation classes were introduced to our curricular and HIV/AIDS became one of the most discussed issues in our groups and my understanding of the pandemic became broadened.
Despite knowing about the risks of being infected way before I was sexually active i had very seldomnly put my self at risk of being infected by not using protection.
It has been said that you are either affected or infected by AIDS I had been affected - my aunt, uncle and cousin have succumbed to the disease.
My aunt was the first to die from the disease in my family in 1994- needless to say that stigmas about the disease were high at that stage, as a result, my family kept it a secret from everyone but my mother revealed to us that it was HIV related.
Two to three years back my cousin fell sick and it was later discovered she has been infected,her family decided to keep it a secret but told my mother and my other aunts but said it should be kept amongst them. Yet again my mother told me and my siblings that my cousin in HIV positive.
It might have been wrong for my mother to reveal my relative's status to us but my understanding is that she has done so in order for us to see how real the disease is and therefore avoid being infected.
My encounters with the disease has made me become inquisitive about the pandemic-It fascinates me how people are able to live healthy fulfilling lives with the virus.
Its people like Criselda Kananda, Zachhie Achmad and many other HIV positive people that shows that being diagnosed as being HIV positive is no death sentence as many see it.
As we draw closer to another World Aids Day - we should think of the contribution we are giving to those affected and infected by Aids.
what is it that we are doing to combat the disease?
how supportive are we to those who live with the virus ?
what are giving to those children orphaned by the disease?
It all start with us, our attitudes towards the disease,how handle sexual relations, how we respond to the news being infected and the support we give to those infected.
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