20/03/2026
As the saying goes, you are either infected or affected. Received this in my inbox 👇
I grew up in a home where some family relatives had HIV. 2 of my cousins had HIV. It was really difficult. My elder cousin died due to stigma and fear of taking drugs. My younger cousin suffered from TB and severe anaemia and finally gave in after completing grade 12, and she had good results. The sister to my mum is a soul survivor. She suffered TB of the spine and stopped walking. We nursed her for a year. Her business went under, and friends went and lost everything 🥹 but we thank God she accepted her status and she recovered. I even used to collect the ART drugs for her. Am happy she is very fit and healthy. She has been on ART for over 25 years if my memory saves me right.
Now, the most painful part is that my own mum was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 while I was doing nursing. It hurts me because despite learning about HIV, doing nursing, and having cousins with the condition, I failed to see it. At first, my mother had herpes zoster (shingles), but we ignored it and continued treating that with painkillers and other medications.
The time my family realised, it was too late. She was admitted to the hospital. Within 3 days, she lost so much weight, and my studies were greatly affected. What even made it worse was that my own classmates (some) were even allocated to the same general ward where my mother was. Now imagine my friends/ classmates reading my mothers file. I was heartbroken. Then, this Nigerian doctor discharged her despite not being fully well. She was put on hAART. She started having hallucinations, etc. At home, the condition changed. So, as a family, we decided to take her to a mission hospital because we felt they would manage her better. Unfortunately, she just stayed there, i think, for 4 days, and she died.
What hurts even more from what I heard from my aunties is that my dad was taking drugs behind my mums back.
So when people talk ill about PLWHIV, I get personal because I have seen it all, and I have felt it.
Even in my practice, I have attended to a lot of people who gave up on taking their medication 💊 even reaching the extent of chasing relatives because they wanted to see my patients sign LAMA and go home. But I have stood by them and nursed them and am proud to say alot have recovered. Even when some of my colleagues would decline to enter the TB room, I would gladly enter without any second thoughts.
I really appreciate you, Madam, Duba, with the work you, do. Your activism, both in your community and social media, has saved a lot of lives. May God continue blessing you and long life on you.
