Couple living with mixed HIV status urge youth to be responsible
Durban — HIV and Aids activist Oziel Mdletshe has urged the youth to take care of themselves and use prevention methods against the virus.
Mdletshe, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday, said he has been living with HIV for more than 20 years. He said those who were already living with HIV should take care of themselves and speak out when they are ready, but they must live a free life and not be afraid of what people will say.
He added that it was crucial for the government to “go out there” and talk to the youth about the prevention of HIV and find innovative ways to teach more of them about PrEP (an injection to reduce the risk of getting HIV).
“When I discovered that I have HIV I was young and still enjoying my youth and there were not a lot of these prevention methods. Now it is even better because the ARVs are now just one pill,” said Mdletshe.
He added that his sister died because of the virus and back then people who had HIV were discriminated against and not much information was available about it.
“When my sister passed away I continued to live my life and I got HIV. I do not know how I got it, but I know it was through sex,” he said.
Mdletshe is married to Nompumelelo, who is HIV-negative, and he said it had not been easy for them as a couple back then because of the stigma against HIV and the discrimination.
His wife said when they met she was a virgin and was not scared of his status.
“I had the knowledge and no fear, but it was not easy for me because people were judging and scrutinising me for being with someone who is infected. Some said I was desperate for marriage, others would ask why.”
She said when she got into the relationship with her husband she knew how she would protect herself and maintain her status. She added that what they had was one thing that she held on to when everyone was against her relationship.
Nompumelelo added that she and her husband have a healthy sex life and they decided to not have children.
Advising youth, she said abstinence is the best form of prevention; however, if they are to have sex they must make sure they empower themselves with the information that is out there.
“Be as informed as possible about everything that involves sex, including sexually transmitted diseases, know your status and that of your partner. Make a decision if you want to be on PrEP and take care of yourself,” said Nompumelelo.
Mdletshe said eating healthily and taking medication the right way has kept him healthy, adding that his wife was “big on advocacy for PrEP”.
Last month the Daily News reported that the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) had registered cabotegravir (Apretude 600mg/3ml injection), a long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) that plays an important role in preventing HIV infection.
Sahpra said cabotegravir was an ARV people living with HIV may use, with other ARVs, to keep the virus in their bodies from making copies of itself. When such medicine is used to prevent HIV infection – taken before exposure to HIV – it is called pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, and plays an important role in preventing HIV infection. Apretude is a safe, highly effective prevention option for people at substantial risk of HIV infection.
Daily News