The cry of a 13-year-old boy living with HIV

I am not going to tell you my name or show you my face but I will tell you about my battle with HIV stigma in school. I am 13 years old. I was born with HIV. I have been taking my medicine every day because the doctor said I could live a long and a happy life if I took my medication on a daily basis.

Sometimes I don’t think the doctor is right about living a happy life. After disclosing my HIV status to my teachers, parents and my schoolmates, things have never been the same. I usually cry a lot almost every day when I am in school. I don’t cry because of being sick but because people are usually mean to me.