I am Angela, an Edo girl by origin but British by birth. I am 25 years old. I grew up believing I had to take some medicines because they were good for my growth as a special child. At age 18 when I entered the university, my mother gave me sex education as usual, reminding me of the harm sex could do to my life as a special child. I took heed and obeyed every word.
I went for an excursion where I had an accident and was taken to the hospital. There the doctor after carrying out some tests asked me how long I had been HIV positive. That was when my whole story changed. After returning home and making several findings, I realized I was HIV positive from birth. I accepted my fate but then, life never felt complete; it felt like my hopes and dreams were crushed.
One fateful day, a doctor friend of mine asked me to checkout a platform online “www.positiveconnect.org”. I did so and was very interested in what I saw. It happened to be what I needed - an international platform for HIV singles to meet and discuss issues concerning them. I joined and noticed the platform had more to offer HIV positive people. They encouraged marriage, counselled people and also gave news and updates about HIV happenings. It was more like a home for HIV positive persons.
Most importantly, they gave me the opportunity to meet a wonderful man, Chukwudi who is also HIV positive and was on the search for companionship. On spiritual, social, intellectual and emotional levels, as humans, we need someone, not just anybody, a partner; someone to share our lives with. Sharing the same HIV status made this bonding/sharing/partnership much easier for Chukwudi and I. Months later, we got married. We are living our dreams. This is far more than I expected of life after discovering I was HIV positive.
In this season of love, I want you all, especially HIV positive singles to understand that there is hope for us all. In sickness or in health, no one is an island. Come out and meet others like you on www.positiveconnect.org. Let’s live, love and most importantly, connect positively because death is a sure end for everyone irrespective of their HIV status. If it worked for me, I’m sure it will for you.
Let us be the change we want to see. Stop the stigmatization, hate the virus and not the person and above all, know your HIV status.
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