Being HIV Positive is not the End of the World

As a Treat All Champion, it is my mission to help people understand the importance of early HIV diagnosis and treatment, and to set an example of how to live positively with HIV. When some people are newly diagnosed with HIV, the first thing they think about is how others will react. Some of them wonder if they will be rejected by their partners. I admit I also had these thoughts. You need to understand what your HIV diagnosis means for your life and what you need to do to be healthy and stay in control. There is a good life after HIV diagnosis. You are worthy of being loved and cherished, like everyone else. Being HIV positive does not mean you should settle for less.The first few weeks after being diagnosed, I just felt that it was the end of me. I wanted to start a relationship with the person who infected me, but then I just scratched off the whole idea. I asked myself why I should settle for him just because I feared that others may reject me because of my HIV status. Whether HIV positive or negative, we all experience rejection at some point. It is true that for many of us living with HIV, it can be harder to get into a relationship. Everybody deserves to be loved whether they are HIV-positive or not. I know everyone hates being rejected by a boyfriend or girlfriend. But we cannot let rejection determine our paths. I realized that the weight of other people’s opinions was burdening me. This worry inhibited me from living my life because my thoughts and actions are controlled by an idealized standard of what people want to see. When I become so obsessed with other people’s opinions of me, I forget that my opinions about myself are worth much more. All I wanted was to be free and live an open and honest life without caring what people would say. You owe it to yourself to find happiness and live a positive life. If other people can do it, you can do it too.I am no less of a person because I have HIV. I can still dream big and live out those dreams. I will not let HIV take away my power. Instead, I have become empowered and risen to the challenge. There is no greater feeling or power than being able to stand up to your fears. Stand tall and say “I am not ashamed of being HIV positive!” Those of you who are not living with HIV, encourage your HIV-positive partner. Help them to love themselves and take their treatment on time every day. This shows that you are a loving, caring and supportive partner. Adherence to treatment will lower your loved one’s viral load and ensure that they remain healthy and also reduce the risk of transmitting the virus during sex. Next week I look forward to sharing with you more about the benefits of viral suppression while taking treatment. See you then. Onalethata Mpebe is a Treat All Champion working in partnership with the Gaborone DHMT at the Broadhurst Industrial Clinic (BTA) . She is available for counseling by appointment, please call her at 7151-7678.