Learning that you're HIV-positive is a huge shock. But once you know your status you can you get treatment. The medicines we have today to suppress the virus are very advanced and it's possible to live a long and healthy life. Give yourself time to get used to the idea that you have HIV.
Six steps after a positive result
- Go back to your health centre for counselling and support and to get medication to keep your viral load in check.
- Take your meds. HIV medication (called antiretrovirals or ARVs) are much easier to take than they used to be. It's essential you take them correctly and consistently . If you stop, the HIV can mutate and develop resistance to the drugs you were taking.
- Get healthy. When your immune system is challenged, you need to take better care of yourself. You need to eat well, exercise regularly and quit any bad habits like taking drugs, alcohol or smoking.
- Learn all you can about the virus. You're going to be dealing with HIV for the rest of your life—so it only makes sense to learn all you can about it. Read up. Do the research. Become an HIV expert!
- Make safer sex a lifelong rule. If you are positive and want to ensure that you are never responsible for infecting anyone else with HIV, you should not ever have sex without using a condom. Not only could you infect others if have unprotected sex, you also risk getting re-infected yourself with another strain of HIV.
- Get hooked up. Look around at your school or health facility for posters of local support groups. You can join and meet other people living with HIV in person or online. Try Facebook: Youth Alive Zambia or Facebook: Young4RealZambia.
HIV is a manageable disease once you know your status. Make sure your health centre is your first stop after you find out. They will help you take control of your health and give you free ARVs.
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4 comments Log in to commentRonewell muzyamba
Being HIV positive isn't the end of your life, coz you can keep on living and working if you just take your drugs in time every time and everyday
11 months, 1 week Ago Report0 Reply
Ba_Hunter
Being Hiv Positive Is Not An Easy Way Of Life Especially When No One Is There To Take Care And Advice You On One Or Two Things It May Seem Like The End Of Someone And That Is Totally Not True Because Its The Begining Of Someones New Life Preferbly They Seek Medical Assistance From Any Medical Center And Coulseling As Wise
5 years, 4 months Ago Report0 Reply