My life story of being an 18 year old living with HIV …Please can you share and join me on my journey , its not been easy living my life. I have had a lot of bad days but now I want to turn them into good days. I need all the support I can get to make this journey so I want my voice to be heard everywhere cause I’m doing this for a good cause. Its time to fight the negative stuff thats been spread today about HIV/AIDS #HIVHASNOSHAME #sayNoToBullies #stigmatizationIsWrong !!! Its time I make a change. Paida Mutupo – Rise Against HIV and Stigmatization These are, the truly, inspiring words of a brave young lady, Paida Mutupo an 18-year-old HIV positive teenager based in Manchester, UK, posted on her facebook timeline. Paida is walking a tough, yet not insurmountable route of demystifying the stigma and challenges of living with HIV. Paida discovered that she was HIV positive at the tender age of 10. She however has chosen to lead a positive life by actively participating in the fight against HIV/AIDS stigma in the UK. Paida wants to reach out to her kith and kin by adding her voice to the HIV/Aids awareness campaign in Zimbabwe. For most Zimbabweans, they are victims of the HIV/Aids scourge by being personally infected or affected by having friends or family suffering from it.
Less than ten years ago, at the height of Zimbabwe’s entropy that had brought the nation down to its knees, Zimbabwe swiftly attained the unenviable world record of having the lowest life span as victims succumbed to HIV/ Aids and starvation. Over the years, the biggest challenges faced by Zimbabweans, particularly men, have been denial of being infected, claims of being bewitched, refusal to get tested or refusal to take medication, along with the false and criminal belief that having sex with an innocent young girl would cure the disease. This only led to the horrendous rise in infections at one time. Paida Mutupo, freely opens up to the world, telling her own story, below, with the hope and conviction that her , progressive efforts will help save lives . She has done what more than 90% of our people wouldn’t dare ever do. Her courage in the face of stigmatisation, is commendable, an act of bravery that should be acknowledged and due credit bestowed upon her, because the impact of her positive stance is far reaching, as people will draw strength from this.
I take my hat off to Paida . At such a young age, she is a cut above the rest, an inspiration to many, a role model and someone deserving of celebrity status for this selfless display that will benefit, not herself but the lives of many who will be reached and touched by her story. Zimbabwe continues to suffer the problem of many children discovering round about the same age that she did, that they are HIV positive. Her initiative will go a long way towards encouraging infected children to live a positive life and enjoy to the fullest. Those willing to engage in discussion, have the full access to do so through, various media listed in her story below. HELLO? My name is Paida, but most people call me P. I am 18 and I am HIV+. I was born with HIV and didn’t find out until I was 10; crazy huh? But guess what? I never gave up. I have struggled growing up because I thought I would never fit and thought I would never be able to achieve my dreams.
I thought for a very long time that I was going to die. Growing up has not been easy but I have made the most out of it. When I was 12 I felt so alone and afraid so I had to share my secret with someone I thought I could call a friend. I just wanted someone to be there for me so badly. A few years down the line my HIV status was exposed to the whole school by that friend, who was then an ex-boyfriend. I didn’t deny it, but I thought my life was over. I was bullied and I was called all sorts of names and told all sorts of things but I continued to stand my ground. I have accepted who I am and understand that I’m not different. I can still have a relationship without transmitting HIV as long as I take my tablets every-day, and I can have babies too.
I share my story because I want to make a change and stop the stigma and wrong information being spread about HIV/AIDS. I have found out that it’s more likely women are the every-day target when it comes to HIV/AIDS, not enough information is being spread out there and you find that people commit suicide because when they first find out they have HIV or AIDS they don’t have much support from society itself. People are afraid to even go out there and be tested because they are scared to be judged by society but I think it’s about time I stop the wrong information about HIV/AIDS being spread around. I just think because people just do not take their time to study HIV/AIDS. Since I found out about having HIV, I have been looking at other diseases such as Cancer/Ebola etc and it’s these diseases people should be worried about that are actually killing thousands.
But you still hear some people saying HIV/AIDS is a bad disease, forgetting that there’s treatment out there which can help you live a normal and healthy life like I am doing; the only thing that kills people in society is being afraid to speak out. Again, if you find out you have HIV or AIDS and start your treatment you can never lose your battle just like that; in fact you are more than guaranteed of a normal life. I want to go out there and be heard to help stop others from being afraid and hurting. I no longer have any shame about being HIV positive. HIV is no longer a death sentence. Get tested, Get treatment, and enjoy your life. If I can enjoy my life from the age of 10, then so can you. It’s never too late to get tested, you can save other people too by doing so. You can follow my Facebook page, I just try and help people whichever way I can so feel free to inbox or talk to me. New Zimbabwe Paida Mutupo – Rise Against HIV and Stigmatization
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| My life story of being an 18 year old living with HIV by Paida Mutupo in UK |
I take my hat off to Paida . At such a young age, she is a cut above the rest, an inspiration to many, a role model and someone deserving of celebrity status for this selfless display that will benefit, not herself but the lives of many who will be reached and touched by her story. Zimbabwe continues to suffer the problem of many children discovering round about the same age that she did, that they are HIV positive. Her initiative will go a long way towards encouraging infected children to live a positive life and enjoy to the fullest. Those willing to engage in discussion, have the full access to do so through, various media listed in her story below. HELLO? My name is Paida, but most people call me P. I am 18 and I am HIV+. I was born with HIV and didn’t find out until I was 10; crazy huh? But guess what? I never gave up. I have struggled growing up because I thought I would never fit and thought I would never be able to achieve my dreams.
I thought for a very long time that I was going to die. Growing up has not been easy but I have made the most out of it. When I was 12 I felt so alone and afraid so I had to share my secret with someone I thought I could call a friend. I just wanted someone to be there for me so badly. A few years down the line my HIV status was exposed to the whole school by that friend, who was then an ex-boyfriend. I didn’t deny it, but I thought my life was over. I was bullied and I was called all sorts of names and told all sorts of things but I continued to stand my ground. I have accepted who I am and understand that I’m not different. I can still have a relationship without transmitting HIV as long as I take my tablets every-day, and I can have babies too.
I share my story because I want to make a change and stop the stigma and wrong information being spread about HIV/AIDS. I have found out that it’s more likely women are the every-day target when it comes to HIV/AIDS, not enough information is being spread out there and you find that people commit suicide because when they first find out they have HIV or AIDS they don’t have much support from society itself. People are afraid to even go out there and be tested because they are scared to be judged by society but I think it’s about time I stop the wrong information about HIV/AIDS being spread around. I just think because people just do not take their time to study HIV/AIDS. Since I found out about having HIV, I have been looking at other diseases such as Cancer/Ebola etc and it’s these diseases people should be worried about that are actually killing thousands.
But you still hear some people saying HIV/AIDS is a bad disease, forgetting that there’s treatment out there which can help you live a normal and healthy life like I am doing; the only thing that kills people in society is being afraid to speak out. Again, if you find out you have HIV or AIDS and start your treatment you can never lose your battle just like that; in fact you are more than guaranteed of a normal life. I want to go out there and be heard to help stop others from being afraid and hurting. I no longer have any shame about being HIV positive. HIV is no longer a death sentence. Get tested, Get treatment, and enjoy your life. If I can enjoy my life from the age of 10, then so can you. It’s never too late to get tested, you can save other people too by doing so. You can follow my Facebook page, I just try and help people whichever way I can so feel free to inbox or talk to me. New Zimbabwe Paida Mutupo – Rise Against HIV and Stigmatization
