sub-saharan africa

sub-saharan africa

stories

The following stories were contributed to our website. Please note that the opinions have not been edited and is presented the way they were received.

My name is Estelle. I am 15 years old. I had flu like systems and was tested for HIV. The results came back negative. But I have lost a lot of my family and friends to HIV. Many of them died because they could not get the medicine. I do not know if I should be thankful that I am negative or be sorry for the people who have dies of AIDS. Many children my age are HIV infected. A lot of them were born HIV positive. The mothers who were pregnant did not have access to the medicine that could have kept the virus from passing on to the child. It is a sad story because not a day goes by without me seeing or hearing about a few funerals. Is there someone out there who can help us? I feel like our nation is being wiped out and there will be no human race if we cannot get help with medicines.

- Estelle, South Africa.

I am 40 years old . Going to die soon. I am educated enough to know how this disease is transmitted, but here I am and I have got it anyway. I hesitate to tell anyone that I am HIV positive. In Nigeria, any mention of the disease and you are prone to receive derogatory comments. People start whispering and automatically assume you are a promiscuous person. It does not matter how you contracted the virus. There is a lot of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. I do not have any children. I am simply waiting for my end. I just hope it is fast and quick - so no one will ever have to know that I was HIV positive. I feel so relieved now.

- Abuja, Nigeria

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