Embracing living with HIV/AIDS, Doreen Moraa Moracha who says has been living with the virus since 1992 celebrated suppressing the virus by posting bottles that contained her Antiretroviral Speaker (ARVs) on Twitter, making light of the situation by including a joke.
The 28-year-old was born to a HIV discordant couple, her mum is positive while her dad is negative she was the 3rd born with her 3 other siblings negative. She says her parents found out she was positive when she was 8. She has known about her status since she was thirteen years old.
Perhaps symbolizing the decreasing stigma and discrimination of people living with the virus, many Kenyans took to the social media post to applaud her for not viewing HIV as a death sentence.
My ARVs can form a small choir🤣anyho goodnight I've just supressed my tiny guest. pic.twitter.com/QA6dVhsHbb
— Yes I have HIV!🇰🇪🇿🇦🇨🇦🇧🇼🇿🇲🇬🇧🇦🇺🇿🇼 (@D_Moraa) September 6, 2020
Doreen is open about her status not because of the pity but in her own words ‘One day, I want someone to look at me and say because of you, I did not give up.’
“You’ll never know how much this courage you display changes attitudes both for those HIV positive as well as HIV Negative. You’re a blessing. I remember shaking Joe Muriuki back in ’93/94@KU during a public lecture when he and 6 other HIV+ campaigners came over. Thank You Doreen!” Ben a Kenyan on Twitter said.
“Glad to see you’re already optimized to DTG. We call it the wonder drug. Currently, we are on an RRI to optimize women of reproductive age from Efavirence based regimen to DTG. You give hope to many. Proud of you!!” Another user, James, remarked.
“Other people are killing themselves with self-stigma and you are living happily? I love your courage girl. I have been a workplace HIV campaigner, I am happy to see them doing well.” Joyce said.
Ending the AIDS epidemic is a United Nations priority, agreed to by 193 member states, Kenya included. In a 2016 Declaration, the UN states that the eradication of HIV-related stigma and discrimination by 2020 is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
HIV stigma is negative attitudes and beliefs about people living with HIV. It is the prejudice that comes with labeling an individual as part of a group that is believed to be socially unacceptable.
