COMINSUD/UNFPA: HIV- Only Becomes A Killer When Treatment Is Neglected.
Martial Gnoukapasi
According to Dr Neba Sharon of the mezam polyclinic in Bamenda, HIV/AIDS only becomes a killer disease when treatment is neglected.
With the availability of modern drugs, she adds that life can still be meaningful, long and healthy when you're tested positive.
She spoke lengthly about the 90-90-90 goal to MNews237 and says the doctor/patient confidentiality still prevail. Reason why people shouldn't shy away from doing their test, as most fear of being stigmatized after knowing their status.
Hear her "The 90-90-90 goal was an objective set by WHO that by 2015, 90% of the population should get tested and know their status, 90% of all infected persons diagnosed to be positive after a screen should be placed on treatment and 90% of all those on treatment should be adherent. Adherent here means that they take their drugs regularly and on daily basis, in other to reduce the viral load in their system"
Reacting to people shying away from knowing their status and stigmatization around those with the disease , she passes across the following advice:
" We understand there's a problem with stigma and we didn't understand why. In some circumstances, I think i do understand. For those who've been tested positive,I want them to know that there's the aspect of anonymosity where your status is known by just you and your health care provider, and only those you choose to reveal it to. On that knowledge, I will advice you to go for a test and take your treatment. For those stigmatizing it's imperative to know that being negative doesn't mean u can't be positive. There're several ways through which the virus can be transmitted, not just through sexual intercourse. To all pregnant mothers that are positive, I will like them to know that they can still have normal healthy children just like women that are negative. To do that you'll need to know your status and take your drugs, which is completely free. The drugs reduces the number of viruses in your system to the point where you can't transmit it to your child. So it's important to cooperate with your health care provider and take your drugs.
HIV is not a life sentence. You can have it and still live a normal life with same life expectancy of a normal human being. However it's imperative to take precautions to prevent transmission.
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