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Black Panther

Malawi

I am Black Panther from Kasungu District. I am here to explain my life and how l got infected with HIV. In 2014, that is when l was found with HIV and AIDS. l strongly believe l got infected at a Chewa Ceremony called Kulamba that was held at Mkaika Headquarters in Katete District in Zambia. We had stayed there for a long time and l had the desire to have sex and l had sex with a lady without any protection.

From that day l was found with HIV and l was so worried because l thought l have just lost my life.  I then decided to go to another hospital to get tested because l was constantly getting sick. But when l started taking ARVs, my situation changed, and l regained my strength and my worries slowly decreased. After 5 years l had faith that even if l have HIV and AIDS, l can live a happy life.

At first l would hide to people that l am HIV positive. In the beginning, my kids, myself and my wife were so worried, and my developmental work went down. I do have challenges, but they are minimal like lack of Bactrim in hospitals. Lack of organisations to help in counselling and lack of support in giving us food to keep us healthy and lack of finances to start business so that we can be independent. This has showed how l stay as a person living with HIV and AIDS.