This week, let’s share some 10 points to consider, especially if you have just been diagnosed HIV positive. Thanks to my colleague Samuel Kumar from Kitwe for these points:
1. You Are Better Off Knowing Your Status : Stop and take a deep breath, acknowledge your fear, begin the healing process,  take ownership of your positive status, do not self pity, do not blame anybody for the way you feel about your status.
You may feel angry as to why this whole thing happened to you, and you have a reason to feel so. However, the fact that you know you have HIV is not a death sentence.
If you were feeling unwell for a while, now you know what was going on and how you can act to stay fit and healthy.
Knowing your status early can help you get treated early on time where your CD4 cells count is around 500 cells per micro-litter of blood (note that there are other criteria for getting treated earlier than this which is not discussed in this article), however if you are newly diagnosed and with clinical AIDS , your CD4 cell count will be very low and this makes treatment harder and recovery more slow and moreover you may experience opportunistic infections.
2. Do Not Re-Live Your Past: Start to live in the present (There is a saying past is a misery, future is a mystery, and now it is a gift – that is why we call PRESENT) do not imagine a grim future for yourself, be focused in your mind about the present and that is where the healing will begin. Studies have shown that stress can cause several illnesses and depression can set in.
3. Create Your Future: Your future will be fine, do not ask how long you will live? With HAART therapy people are living with HIV for over 25 years and rarely get sick, they are living proofs. You must take care of your health and adhere to treatment at all times.
The treatment for HIV in the 1980s is different from that of today, where the HAART therapy with a combination of ARVs has brought the life expectancy of those living with HIV to levels of those not infected with the virus.
4. Your Life Will Not Change Dramatically: HIV has become a manageable disease, and you may not want to tell the whole world about your status, but you may wish to talk to those whom you would think would really care for you.
If disclosing your status is going to help you by telling them, then do so. You may consider talking to NZP+ (Network of Zambian people living with HIV/AIDS) and they will embrace you and will give you good guidance.
You will never be alone again. One important issue is that in the fight against HIV/AIDS it is important to tell your sexual partner about your status and you may seek advice from counsellors who will be more than willing to help you in this matter. Learn more about HIV, its progression, resistance testing methods, opportunistic infections etc.
5. Educate Yourself About HIV: You need to gather as much quality information about the virus, treatment, preventative vaccinations, blood tests and terms related to HIV. There are some suggestions like talks about HIV/AIDS through the media, support groups and social networks like TALC , NZP(+) ,CHAZ, World Vision, just to name a few.
6. Medical Care: Contact support groups who can help you find a place near where you live and where you can obtain specialised clinical care. If you have started your ARVs and you are planning for a long journey then take sufficient medications along with you for the period you will be away.
7. Do Not Change Your Life Style: Continue doing your regular routine things that you would do, do not let HIV stop you from going to work, your gym, your holiday, your visit to friends and relatives, your visit to the grocery shop, taking your dog for a walk. Have adequate sleep and have a balanced diet. “This is my body, this is my life, I am not going to stop living.”
8. Keep Your Medical Records up to-date: Maintain a diary of your visits to your clinic, do not hesitate to ask questions about your medications, and treatments. You may want to have a pills box and alarm clock which can help you when starting treatment.
9. Have a Balanced Life: One day we all have to leave this earth, and as each day passes we are all drawing closer to the day we will see our Lord and creator. You must be also spiritually prepared and involve in exploring your spirituality and take part in doing social work, and voluntary work. Such activities will uplift your spirit and will also please our creator.
10. Go Through the above Points: Go through all the nine points mentioned above, till you are convinced that HIV will never conquer your way of life – NEVER.
Finally, before I pen off, here is a word from Mr Howard Maila on Ebola following his revelations that his herbal drug mailacin can cure the Ebola virus:
Let the Mailacin formulation which is non toxic and anti-viral in nature be taken to the state of the art South African laboratories urgently for in vitro tests on the Ebola virus.
The findings to be elicited without any doubt are:
I.            It will be proved a cure for this pandemic
II.            If used on human subjects, it will change their clinical picture and sustain their health within hours to better
III.            The disease will no longer adversely affect the social-economic status of the poor nations
IV.            Fear about Ebola will not be insinuated very much.
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