This is why you should know your HIV status

Mothers, fathers, religious leaders, doctors, literate and illiterate, business men and women, leaders, black and white, young and old, soldiers and managers  just to mention a few, can get the virus. HIV has no boundaries at all. It is a diseases that does not have a face. It could be you, it could be your best friend, and it could be your brother or even your sister. It actually could be anyone.

You cannot tell that someone has HIV by just looking at them. Most people think that skinny people are usually HIV positive forgetting that even those who look healthy can actually have the virus. Moreover many people who have HIV virus do not know they are infected because they do not show any symptoms for many years. Asking whether you are clean or not won’t protect you from HIV neither. This is why it is important that people are tested for HIV.

When you get tested, you are actually taking care of yourself and others. Knowing your status is a source of strength, not a reason for fear. It is recommended that if you are sexually active, you should test regularly (after every 6months) for HIV and other STIs.

There is no cure for HIV but when detected early there are medicines that will help persons living with HIV live a long healthy and a happy life. Treating HIV early can reduce the viral load up to a level that it is undetectable hence improving health and reducing the risk of transmission to almost zero.

Kenya has a population of over 40 million. According to the Ministry of Health 2015 only 7,161,215 million people have been tested for HIV. Research has shown that creating an AIDS-free generation is not possible without testing.

It’s funny that men can spend two hours watching a football match while women can spend 55 minutes doing makeup but both of them cannot even spare 20 minute of their time to request for a HIV test. HIV testing is fast, free and confidential. The best gift that you can ever give yourself is knowing your HIV status. Include HIV testing as part of your health routine. Take control of your life by requesting for a HIV test.