CONAKRY – This December 1st, 2022 marks the 34th World AIDS Day. According to the authorities, more than 113,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Guinea.
On the occasion of this day, your online newspaper collected the testimonies of a young woman who has been living with HIV/AIDS for 5 years. We call her BC, 34 years old today. She was at the end of her university cycle in the city of Kindia in 2017 when she contracted HIV. This young lady was part of a group that helps organize seminars and training workshops in the citrus town.
She played the role of hostess at certain ceremonies. In his frequent activities in this cosmopolitan region, BC meets a man with HIV whom he believes was above suspicion. Before, this girl didn’t really believe in the existence of this disease, let alone contracting it one day. Africaguinee.com interviewed her. BC shares their experiences in hopes of saving others.
“In 2017 I realized that I was HIV positive. At the very beginning I had refuted the results of the diagnosis. In the long term I have come to the conclusion that I am HIV positive with the signs. Coming back to my story, it was during a training workshop in Kindia. There were participants from all over the country. The largest number came from Conakry. I developed a relationship with a grown man during the 5-day training. A relationship that continued after training. Because he came to Kindia on certain weekends and often invited me to Conakry. It was in this relationship that I became infected with HIV. It took me months to realize that. I was at a family ceremony in my home village when the disease manifested itself as a cold. It was on the eve of our graduation ceremony on our way back to Kindia. I hardly attended the celebrations. The cold got worse. As usual, I took painkillers, thinking it would sort itself out. I couldn’t imagine it being more serious.
I lost my life, my life has no meaning anymore (tears)…
As the days passed I felt weakened. Neighbor of a young doctor, I confided in him. I described the signs to him. He advised me to do lab tests. But when he gave me that advice, it was as if he saw things that he didn’t want to tell me directly. I went to a center where they took a sample from me. The next day I came to take the result but I could not interpret it. The lab technician told me to give it to the doctor. When the doctor saw the result, after a moment’s thought, he told me that he would prefer I go to another screening center and that there were no fees. I went with a friend.
Three days later they told me to pick up the result. I couldn’t imagine for a single day that it was HIV. Here I am told that they prefer me to be alone unaccompanied because it is in my interest. Then they tell me if I have someone or a relative who can explain certain things to me or who I can confide in? I answer them: You’re in a better position to explain to me what’s going on. When I pushed too hard I was told what the issue was. But before the doctor made enough turns to calm me down by saying to me: everything that happens to you in life you have to accept. The important thing is not to be impressed, but to persevere. He says is it mrs or miss? I will answer.
He further adds: Each of us has an illness that we will deal with for life that it is rare that a citizen does not live with a health ailment. The word AIDS still didn’t come. He talks to me about diabetes, hypertension and specifies that the carriers of these diseases live for decades without any problems with the follow-up of a lifelong treatment without interruption. Even people with AIDS are everywhere today, with ARVs (antiretrovirals), you can’t feel them unless they tell you. In addition, AIDS patients would be cared for free of charge with state and partnership support, and unlike diabetics and hypertensives, who take care of themselves, no one has to take care of it. After all, he tells me that I am HIV positive from AIDS (editor’s tearful note). He showed me a long list of people on HIV treatment.
Predestined for everything but AIDS
I told him that’s not true, I’m destined for anything but AIDS. I told her I’m not a prostitute, I don’t sell my body. I’m not handing anyone over to stop dreaming. From explanation to explanation, we rebuilt my relationship with him. He tells me your partner if he’s alone you need to work it out with him. I told him he was a very clean and very noble and responsible man. He tells me that I must check the latter in private while waiting, he advises me to take the retroviruses without fear. I took advantage of my return to Conakry with the family, with the advice of the doctor in Kindia I explained to my partner that I intend to do a test with him.
He didn’t refuse either, as far as I understand he didn’t know that he was HIV positive either, but it hadn’t manifested in him yet, but the results were positive. They know that we can contract the disease and live a long time without it manifesting in some, while in others it does from the start. For example, my case is after only 9 months of relationship, while he himself has not felt anything. For the moment that we are here, we follow the treatment in hiding for fear of being stigmatized in society.
My partner does not live with his wife and children, they have been legally separated since 2010. We accepted what happened to us. I have stated this to save society from HIV. It’s full everywhere. When we cannot be faithful, we protect ourselves. Avoid trusting people (tears) on first meeting. That’s how my life changed,” says BC
Numbers on the rise in Kindia
Doctor Mamadou Houdy Bah, Kindia’s regional health inspector, told Africaguinee the worrying numbers.
“2400 patients were listed and monitored in Kindia. There are currently 718 patients on the active record. That means it’s the 718s who come in regularly for treatment and take their medication. The rest of the 2400 have moved to Conakry. There are also deaths. Due to its proximity to Conakry, many prefer to travel to the capital for treatment. This means that here we do not have the overall situation on the prevalence rate, ”clarifies the Kindia regional health inspector.
Alpha Ousmane Bah
For africaguinee.com
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