MY TESTIMONYS – Ariokosi John
I greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am ARIOKOSI JOHN, a resident of Kakoliye village south division Moroto Municipality and a member of Choose Life Home Based care Naoi. I hereby, give my testimony on HIV/AIDs.
I have lived with HIV for twenty years now, I realised that I had contracted HIV five years after suffering a lot with various diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, TB, etc. One day a friend of mine who was working in the hospital and used to drink with me told me to go to the hospital to take an HIV test. I agreed and after the test I was found HIV positive. I got terrified because I did not know what I could tell my friends and family. The counsellor called me to a counselling room where I was given supportive counselling on how to live positively and so I had to accept myself and was enrolled on drugs from then up to now. I take my drugs every day, the right dose at right time as instructed by the doctor. Now am living a happy life and even the virus has been suppressed. I call upon the community that if you are tested HIV positive never fear, be open, take your drugs, be with people and act on the following;
- Abstain from sex
- Be faithful to your partner
- Use condoms
In reference to stigma and discrimination index, the youth are ranked high on stigma and discrimination because they ignore to attend HIV related programmes with the excuse that they are busy or need allowances. I therefore, appeal to you young generation to rise up and fight this war together.
To the leaders, I ask you to spread this massage in all the gathering you share and support PLWHA, avoid stigmatising and discriminating them and continue supporting the organisations, implementing HIV/AIDS programs like CLHBC and others. If we all follow this, we shall achieve;
- Zero new infections
- Zero HIV/AIDS related death
- Zero stigma and discrimination in the near future
As a community we shall make a difference.
Thank you!
Ariokosi John