Emmanuel Chilongo

I am a 22 year old male who grew up in Chipata Overspill, Lusaka Zambia. My family have been supportive from childhood until now, though with great difficult when it comes to financial stability, I have a positive influence towards life because I never look on what's gone but focus on my goals and past achievements. I did my senior secondary education at rolling Stone secondary school and currently about to pursue my degree in public health. My strongest supporters are my family and friends but mostly my mother, since 2011 I was mostly in and out of the hospital, then one day mom decided to take me for an HIV test though never new anything on what was going on by then, i was very young to understand the condition. Am proud to be helping young people come out of difficult situations, especially when it comes to knowing and disclosing their HIV status. Going forward, I expect all partners and stakeholders to put in more effort in engaging adolescents by coming up with different activities such as the ones that keep their minds active and also providing recreation facilities for adolescents and activities that will empower them in making a strategic life style decisions in life and lastly, by bringing more supportive equipment that will help them support and educate the young people. My vision is tool help as many adolescent as possible and build an orphanage for the homeless. Covid-19 is a dangerous viral disease that can be transmitted through air, it is deadly but can be controlled when we put public health precautions in place such as maintaining social distance, and avoiding handshakes. Covid-19 has affected a lot of activities even stopped going for work and the economy itself has been affected.  My advice to all organizations working towards HIV/AIDS and Covid-19 is that we provide support to the movement and encourage more positive people to avoid getting Covid because their immune systems are already compromised, Keep up with the good work in helping young people. 

About HIV & AIDS

‘HIV’ and ‘AIDS’ are not the same thing. It is important and helpful to understand the difference between them..
HIV is a virus that infects the body and attacks the immune system. If HIV is left untreated it can cause a range of symptoms.
People with very advanced HIV infection, whose immune systems have been almost totally destroyed, are said to have AIDS.
Lifelong treatment can keep HIV under control. This means people can live long healthy lives and stop worrying about infecting others.

The HIV Lifecycle

HIV infects a type of white blood cell in the body’s immune system called a T-helper cell (also called a CD4 cell). These vital cells keep us healthy by fighting off infections and diseases.

HIV cannot grow or reproduce on its own. Instead, the virus attaches itself to a T-helper cell and fuses with it. It then takes control of the cell’s DNA, replicates itself inside the cell, and finally releases more HIV into the blood – continuing the multiplication process. This is the HIV lifecycle.

In this way HIV weakens the body’s natural defenses and over time severely damages the immune system. How quickly the virus develops depends on a person’s general health, how soon after getting HIV they’re diagnosed and start antiretroviral treatment, and how consistently they take their treatment.

Antiretroviral Treatment and the HIV Lifecycle

Antiretroviral treatment combines a range of drugs that target different stages in the HIV lifecycle, making it very effective. If it’s taken correctly, it keeps the immune system healthy, prevents the symptoms and illnesses associated with AIDS from developing, and means that people can enjoy long and healthy lives.

If someone doesn’t take their treatment correctly or consistently, drug resistance can develop. At this point the drugs are no longer stopping the virus from replicating.

Stages of the HIV Lifecycle

1. Binding and fusion

The virus attaches itself to a T-helper cell and releases HIV into the cell.

(Fusion or entry inhibitor drugs stop this happening)

2. Conversion and integration

Once inside the T-helper cell, HIV changes its genetic material so it can enter the nucleus of the cell and take control of it.

(NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors), NNRTIs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and integrase inhibitor drugs stop this happening) 

3. Replication

The infected T-helper cell then produces more HIV proteins that are used to produce more HIV particles inside the cell.

4. Assembly, budding and maturation

The new HIV particles are then released from the T-helper cell into the bloodstream which infect other cells; and so the process begins again.

Symptoms and stages of HIV infection

The symptoms of HIV at each stage can vary in type and severity from person-to-person and some people may not get any symptoms at all for many years. Without antiretroviral treatment, the virus replicates in the body and causes more and more damage to the immune system. This is why people need to start treatment as soon as possible after testing positive.

Stage 1: Acute primary infection

Around one to four weeks after getting HIV, some people will experience symptoms that can feel like flu. These may not last long (a week or two) and you may only get some of the flu symptoms – or none at all. Experiencing these symptoms alone is not a reliable way of diagnosing HIV.

You should always visit your healthcare professional if you’re worried about or think you’ve been at risk of getting HIV, even if you don’t feel unwell or have any of the following symptoms. They can then arrange for you to get tested.

Symptoms can include:

• fever (raised temperature)
• body rash
• sore throat
• swollen glands
• headache
• upset stomach
• joint aches and pains
• muscle pain.

These symptoms can happen because your body is reacting to the HIV virus. Cells that are infected with HIV are circulating throughout your blood system. Your immune system, in response, tries to attack the virus by producing HIV antibodies - this process is called seroconversion. Timing varies but once you have HIV it can take your body up to a few months to go through the seroconversion process.

It may be too early to get an accurate HIV test result at this point, but the levels of virus in your blood system are high at this stage.

Because you may not know that you (or your partner) have HIV, condoms are the best way to protect yourself and your partner when having sex. Using a condom is especially important if you think you have been exposed to HIV.

Stage 2: The asymptomatic stage

Once a person has been through the acute primary infection stage and seroconversion process, they can often start to feel better. In fact, HIV may not cause any other symptoms for up to 10 or even 15 years (depending on age, background and general health). However, the virus will still be active, infecting new cells and making copies of itself. HIV can still be passed on during this stage. If left untreated, over time, HIV infection will cause severe damage to the immune system.

Stage 3: Symptomatic HIV infection

By the third stage of HIV infection a person’s immune system is severely damaged. At this point, they’re more likely to get serious infections, or bacterial and fungal diseases that the body would otherwise be able to fight off. These infections are referred to as ‘opportunistic infections’.

Symptoms can include:

• weight loss
• chronic diarrhoea
• night sweats
• fever
• persistent cough
• mouth and skin problems
• regular infections
• serious illness or disease.

Is there a Cure for HIV and AIDS?

There is no cure for HIV yet. However, treatment can control HIV and enable people to live a long and healthy life. This may include attaining an undetectable viral load. If you think you’ve been at risk of HIV, it's important to get tested. Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have the virus.

If you’ve already tested and your result is positive, you’ll be advised to start antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible. Treatment is the only way to manage HIV and prevent it from damaging your immune system. It also reduces the risk of passing HIV on to your sexual partners.

Will there ever be a Cure for HIV?

Researchers and scientists believe that we can find a cure for HIV. We know a lot about HIV, as much as certain cancers. Scientists are researching two types of cure: a functional cure and a sterilizing cure (there is no 'natural cure' or 'herbal cure' as of yet too) for HIV. 

A Functional Cure

A functional cure would suppress the amount of HIV virus in the body to such low levels that it can’t be detected or make you ill – but it would still be present. Some people think that antiretroviral treatment is effectively a functional cure, but most define a functional cure as something that suppresses the virus without the need for ongoing antiretroviral treatment.

There are a few examples of people considered to have been functionally cured, such as the Mississippi Baby, but in all these cases the virus has re-emerged. Most of these people received antiretroviral treatment very quickly after infection or birth.

A Sterilizing Cure

A sterilizing cure is one where the HIV virus is eradicated from the body completely, including from hidden reservoirs. There is only one known person who’s been cured in this way: Timothy Brown, also known as the 'Berlin Patient'.

In 2007-08, Brown had chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant to treat leukemia. His transplant came from someone with a natural genetic resistance to HIV. He was cured of HIV but scientists don’t fully understand why. Also, because bone marrow transplants can be dangerous, they’re not practical as a wider HIV cure. However, this process has given researchers important information that they’re using to work towards a cure.

Researching an HIV cure: the main approaches

1. 'Activate and eradicate' (sometimes known as ‘Shock and kill’) which aims to flush the virus out of its reservoirs and then kill the infected cells.
2. Gene editing which aims to change immune cells so they can’t be infected by HIV.
3. ‘Immune modulation’ which is looking for ways to permanently change the immune system to better fight HIV.
4. Stem cell transplants which aim to completely eliminate a person’s infected immune system and replace it with a donor immune system. This is the most complex and risky approach.

While there is promising research being carried out in these areas, there is no cure on the horizon.

An HIV vaccine

A number of HIV vaccine trials show encouraging results. However, so far, a vaccine would only offer partial protection and would need to be used in combination with other prevention and treatment options.

What should I do until there’s a cure for HIV?

For now, the best thing to do for your health is to test regularly for HIV. If you have the virus, start antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible and keep taking it regularly as prescribed.

Thomas Ntalasha

I am HIV positive and I have been living with the virus for as long as I can remember. I can't really recall how or when it happened but this is what I have been told by the guardians who where present during that time.. One day when I was at school grounds playing during break time, this was 1998 when I was 7 yrs old. I felt sick like really sick next thing I collapsed and was rushed to a near by private hospital and was attended to. The doctor later told my guardians that I needed a blood transfusion if I was to live .. thankfully they had found a match in a fast way and I recovered . A year later felt sick again , and this time after running tests it was discovered that I have TB and HIV at same time. They had to put me on TB Treatment first then ARVs later on . This is the time when a lot of us people never had full knowledge about HIV. Stigma and discrimination was at its highest top cuz the one having it was terrified of themselves and the only thought that crossed their mind was Death , the ones not having it where afraid of it and wouldn't even desire to share things with the positive ones .. I remember being given a plate, a spoon, a cup of my own and an isolated place to be eating from .. funny thing is I still have that cup 

 .. life was never so simple being in such position. Sad thing is I had no clue why I was living like that, to me I thought I was the boss  who needed to have things separate from others. I kept on asking them why I take this medications and their answer was to keep me strong , I was brought up and lived like that , till one day in 2007 when I made it to G8, my guardian gave me an acceptance letter which he had signed and told me to give it to the head teacher when I report for class .

I was so happy going to school as a G8, while on the bus going to school that day, curiosity got in me to just check what was signed in that letter .. so opened it, as I was going through the paper, I came across a question they had asked "does he/she have any serious illness?" And my guardian answered "yes , he's HIV positive and currently on Medication" .. that right there changed my state that day .. I stayed for months isolated and never made any new friends at school.. it took a while for me to recover.. I later took some counseling and I started doing some research . Thankfully I came to understand how this works YOU EITHER GIVE UP AND LET THE VIRUS TAKE CONTROL OVER YOU OR YOU BOSS UP AND TAKE CHARGE.

Acceptance, Loving myself, adhering to meds , eating, and exercise is what had kept me this far . Clocking 22yrs on Medication, and who says you can't live that long and achieve your dreams ?  Challenges will always be there, people will talk , but it all starts with you .. you wanna survive this long? It starts with you, you wanna stop stigma and discrimination? It starts with you .

Together we are strong . 

HIV transmission & prevention 

You can only get HIV if the bodily fluids of someone who already has HIV get into your body. A person with HIV can pass the virus to others whether they have symptoms or not.

There are a lot of myths around how HIV is passed from one person to another (HIV transmission) but there are only a few ways you can get it. There are also a number of things you can do to reduce your chances of infection.

Find out here about the ways HIV can be passed on and how to protect yourself from the virus.

How do you get HIV?

HIV is found in the following bodily fluids of someone living with the virus:

• blood
• semen and pre-seminal fluid ('pre-cum')
• rectal fluids/anal mucous
• vaginal fluids
• breast-milk.

For you to get HIV, these bodily fluids need to get into your blood through a mucous membrane (for example, the lining of the vagina, rectum, or the opening of the penis), via shared injecting equipment, or through broken skin (such as cuts or sores in the mouth or tears around the anus).

There is not enough HIV virus in other bodily fluids, like saliva, sweat or urine, to transmit it from one person to another.

Someone living with HIV who has an ‘undetectable’ viral load, meaning effective treatment has lowered the amount of virus in their blood to levels where it cannot be detected by a normal blood test, cannot pass on HIV.

A person living with HIV with a detectable viral load can pass the virus to others whether they have symptoms or not.

HIV is most infectious in the first few weeks after infection. At this time many people are unaware of their status.

How do you get HIV from sex?

HIV is transmitted through semen (cum and pre-cum), vaginal fluid, blood, and anal mucus. During sex without a condom the bodily fluids from one person can pass into the body of their sexual partner. This can happen through the mucous membranes of the penis, vagina and rectum, or sores in the mouth and throat.

You can only get HIV from someone who is living with HIV and has a detectable viral load.

Do some types of sex have more HIV risk?

Anal sex and HIV 

Anal sex has the biggest HIV risk because the lining of the anus is more delicate than the lining of the vagina. This means it is more easily damaged, providing an easier route for HIV to enter the body. Receptive anal sex (‘bottoming’) carries more risk than insertive anal sex (‘topping’).

Vaginal sex and HIV 

Both male and female partners can get HIV from vaginal sex. The risk of getting and passing on HIV through vaginal sex increases during menstruation.

Oral sex and HIV

The risk of getting HIV from unprotected oral sex is extremely low. It only poses a risk if the person giving oral sex has mouth ulcers, sores or bleeding gums, or the person receiving oral sex has sores on their genitals. 

Sex toys, fingering, fisting and HIV

Sex toys, such as dildos, come into direct contact with rectal/vaginal fluids and mucous membranes. This means sharing an uncleaned dildo or other toy can pass on HIV. Using sex toys on your own has no risk. 

There is no direct risk of HIV from fingering or fisting (unless you have open cuts or sores on your hands), but be aware of being rough. Damage to anal/vaginal tissues, especially if there is any bleeding, will increase risk of HIV transmission if you then have anal, vaginal or oral sex later.

Kissing and HIV

HIV is not contained in saliva, so you can’t get HIV from kissing. 

Other factors

Having multiple sexual partners and/or STIs also increases the risk of HIV infection through sex if you are not using other protection.

How can I avoid getting HIV from unprotected sex?

Condoms

Condoms are the most effective way of preventing transmission of HIV and other STIs.

They can be used during vaginal and anal sex as well as on a penis during oral sex. They should be put on before any sexual contact as HIV can be passed on through pre-cum, vaginal fluid, and from anal mucus.

Both internal (female) and external (male) condoms are available so you can experiment and use whichever works best for you.     

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP is a pill taken by HIV-negative people to prevent HIV. It contains antiretroviral drugs that stop the virus from taking hold in your body. 

PrEP is taken by people who have a higher risk of getting HIV, this can include people in a relationship with someone living with HIV, or people who belong to groups who are more at-risk of HIV infection - such as men who have sex with men, and young women in many countries in Southern Africa.
  
Ask a healthcare professional if you want to know if PrEP would be right for you. PrEP is not currently available everywhere, but access is expanding. 

When taken properly PrEP virtually eliminates the risk of getting HIV. PrEP won’t protect you against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as hepatitis C. Condoms are still the best protection from these STIs.

Antiretroviral Treatment

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) lowers the amount of HIV in your body, making it less likely that you will pass HIV on. 

If you are living with HIV, are on effective treatment, and have an ‘undetectable’ viral load, it means you have such a low amount of HIV in your body, that you cannot pass HIV on through sex. 

If you are HIV-negative, you cannot get HIV from sex with someone who is HIV-positive and undetectable. 

Not everyone on HIV treatment has an undetectable viral load, so to be sure that you are ‘undetectable’ (and stay undetectable) you must attend regular viral load monitoring.

Lubricants

Lubricants, or lube, make sex safer by reducing the risk of tears or damage to the vagina or anus caused by dryness or friction. It can also reduce the risk of a condom breaking.

Lube is particularly important for anal sex, as the anus is delicate and does not self-lubricate.

Use water-based lubricants instead of oil-based lubricants, as oil-based lubricants (such as Vaseline) weaken the latex in condoms and can cause them to break.

Dental dams 

A dental dam is a small plastic sheet that can be used to cover the mouth, vagina or anus during oral sex to reduce the risk of STIs.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP is a course of antiretroviral medicines that can prevent HIV after an event that might have put you at risk of infection, for example if you have had sex without a condom with someone of unknown HIV status. 

PEP can stop HIV infection, but it must be started within 72 hours of possible exposure.

Unlike condoms or PrEP, PEP should not be relied upon as a regular form of protection.  

Your doctor or healthcare professional will advise you on whether you could take PEP. PEP may not be available where you are.

Testing for HIV 

Knowing your HIV status is an important part of looking after your sexual health and can help you to have safer-sex. If you know you’re positive you can take ART to stay healthy and reduce the risk of transmitting HIV, or if you’re negative, knowing your status can give you more motivation to protect your sexual health.

It’s important to have regular check-ups for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well, as having an STI increases your chance of getting HIV.

Sharing needles to inject drugs, and HIV

If you inject drugs, make sure you know how to do it safely to protect yourself and others from HIV and other infections.

How do you get HIV from injecting drugs?

During an injection, some blood goes into the needle and syringe. A needle and syringe that someone living with HIV has used can contain blood with the virus in it after the injection. If you then use the same injecting equipment, you are likely to inject HIV-infected blood directly into your bloodstream.

Can I get HIV from any type of injecting?

Yes.

Sharing a needle or syringe for any use, including injecting drugs under the skin (skin popping), steroids, hormones or silicone, can put you at risk of HIV and other infections found in the blood like hepatitis C.

You can get HIV from injecting into a vein (intravenous injecting). You can also get HIV from injecting into the fat under the skin (subcutaneous injecting) and injecting directly into a muscle (intramuscular injection).

There are many ways you could get HIV from injecting drugs and the equipment used to inject drugs, including:

• preparing drugs with syringes that contain infected blood
• sharing water used to flush blood out of a needle and syringe
• reusing bottle caps, spoons, or other containers (‘cookers’) to dissolve drugs into water and to heat drug solutions
• reusing filters - normally small pieces of cotton or cigarette filters – used to filter out particles that could block the needle during an injection
• unsafe disposal of used needles or syringes.

If I use drugs, how can I reduce my risk of HIV?

If you inject drugs, avoid sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment like spoons or swabs, as this exposes you to HIV and other viruses found in the blood like hepatitis C.

In some countries, used needles can be exchanged for clean ones at pharmacies and needle exchanges. If you take heroin and share needles, you could consider joining a methadone or buprenorphine programme to reduce your risk of HIV. These opioid substitutes are swallowed as a liquid, reducing your risk of HIV as well as helping you to manage your drug addiction. A doctor or healthcare professional can advise you about the availability of needle exchanges and methadone/buprenorphine programmes in your area.

Another option may be to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This is when you take HIV treatment before possible exposure to HIV (such as injecting drugs) to prevent infection. It’s now recommended for people who inject drugs, although it‘s only available in certain countries.

There are other things you can do to reduce your risk of HIV from injecting drugs:

• use sterile water to prepare drugs (for example, boiled water)
• use a new or disinfected container (‘cooker’) and a new filter (‘cotton’) each time you prepare drugs
• before you inject, clean the area of your body you’re going to inject into with a new alcohol swab
• safely dispose of needles and syringes after one use so you don’t use them again, and other people aren’t at risk of accidental exposure.

If you are having a tattoo or piercing, make sure that a clean, sterilized needle is used.

What should I do if I have injected unsafely?

If you think you have shared needles with someone who has HIV (or any other bloodborne virus) make sure you get tested as soon as possible

If you sexually active, use a condom until you get your test results. If you are HIV-positive but don’t yet know it, and you don’t use a condom, you may pass on HIV onto your partner.

You may also be able to get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Taken within 72 hours of possible exposure, PEP can stop HIV from spreading in your body. However, it is not available everywhere. Your healthcare professional will be able to talk you through your options.

Pregnancy, childbirth & breastfeeding and HIV

How is HIV transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy?

If you are a pregnant woman living with HIV there are a number of ways that HIV might be passed on to your baby. HIV in your blood could pass into your baby’s body. This is most likely to happen in the last few weeks of pregnancy, during labor, or delivery. Breastfeeding your baby can also transmit HIV, because HIV is in your breast-milk.

There is a 15 to 45% chance of passing HIV on to your baby if neither of you take HIV treatment. 

However, taking the correct treatment during your pregnancy and while you breastfeed can virtually eliminate this risk. 

How do I know if I have HIV?

If you are pregnant, it is important to attend your antenatal appointments, as these are the times when you can get an HIV test.

Your healthcare professional will offer you a test at your first appointment. If the result is positive you will be encouraged to start antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible. You will also be offered a test in your third trimester (from 28 weeks).
Remember that, whether you are pregnant or not, if you do have HIV you may not show any symptoms. The only way to know whether you are HIV-positive is to get tested.

If at any point during your pregnancy or breastfeeding stage you think you have been exposed to HIV, you may be able to take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). You need to take PEP within 72 hours of possible exposure to prevent HIV from establishing in your body and being passed on to your baby. If you’re breastfeeding, you should discuss whether or not to continue breastfeeding with your healthcare professional.

If you are pregnant, it is important to attend your antenatal appointments, as this is where you can get an HIV test.

How can I prevent passing HIV on to my baby?

If your HIV test result is positive, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of passing on HIV to your baby.

Taking antiretroviral treatment to protect your baby

Taking treatment properly can reduce the risk of your baby being born with HIV to less than 1%.

If you knew that you were HIV-positive before you got pregnant, you may be taking treatment already. If you are not, talk to a healthcare professional about starting treatment as soon as possible.

If you found out that you living with HIV during your pregnancy, it is recommended that you start treatment as soon as possible and continue taking it every day for life.

Your baby will also be given treatment for four to six weeks after they are born to help prevent an HIV infection developing.

Protecting your baby during childbirth

If you take your treatment correctly, it will lower the amount of HIV in your body. In some people, the amount of HIV in their body can be reduced to such low levels that it is said to be ‘undetectable’ (undetectable viral load).

This means that you can plan to have a vaginal delivery because the risk of passing on HIV to your baby during childbirth will be extremely small.

If you don’t have an undetectable viral load, you may be offered a caesarean section, as this carries a smaller risk of passing HIV to your baby than a vaginal delivery.

If your HIV test result comes back positive, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of passing HIV to your baby.

I was diagnosed with HIV. After a few years I entered a relationship and we decided to have children. My HIV consultant assured me that it was fine since my viral load was undetectable. I had my twins through C-section, which was planned.

HIV and breastfeeding

Breast-milk contains HIV. However, guidelines on whether or not to breastfeed vary depending on what resources are available to you.

If you always have access to formula and clean, boiled water, you should not breastfeed and give formula instead.

If you do not have access to formula and clean, boiled water all of the time, you may be advised to breastfeed while both you and your baby are taking antiretroviral treatment.

If you do breastfeed, you must always take your treatment and exclusively breastfeed (give breast-milk only) for at least six months. Mixing breast-milk and other foods before this time increases your baby’s risk of HIV. You can mix-feed your baby after six months.

As every person’s situation is different, it is best to talk to a healthcare professional to get specific advice.

Does my baby have HIV?

Your baby should be tested for HIV at birth, and again four to six weeks later.

If the result comes back negative, your baby should be tested again at 18 months and/or when you have finished breastfeeding to find out your baby’s final HIV status. It is very important to take your baby for this final HIV test to ensure they are HIV-negative or to get them on treatment if they are positive.

If any of these tests come back positive, your baby will need to start treatment straight away. Talk to your healthcare professional, and attend follow-up appointments to ensure your baby receives treatment.

Why get tested for HIV?

The only way to tell if you have HIV is to get tested. A lot of people feel nervous about it, but the reasons to test far outweigh the reasons not to test!

Do I need to get tested for HIV?

You should get tested if you:

• have had unprotected sex
• have recently been diagnosed with another STI
• have shared needles or other injecting equipment
• are worried about HIV and want to put your mind at ease.  

Even if you think it’s unlikely that you will have HIV, the quickest way to stop worrying is by taking a test.

If you’re sexually active, it’s good to get into the habit of testing regularly for HIV, even if you regularly use condoms and don’t think you have been at risk.

It’s always better to know

Testing is the only way to know if you have HIV. It's normal to feel worried about HIV, but testing for HIV can put your mind at ease and reduce the anxiety of not knowing.

People often put off testing because they are worried about the result, but knowing your status will allow you to take control of your health.

If you’re negative, you can get more information on how to stay that way, while if you’re positive you can start treatment, to make sure that you stay healthy.

It’s quick and easy

Getting an HIV test is quick, easy and almost always free. It's also the only way to know for sure whether or not you have HIV.

Depending on the type of test used, it will involve either a quick saliva or blood test, neither of which are painful. In some places you can even take a test in your own home.

When to get tested for HIV?

Making HIV testing routine

It’s recommended that you test for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at least once a year if you’re having sex, even if you always use protection. 

You might want to test more regularly than this, for example, if you are having sex with a new partner or feel you are more at risk. Groups who are more at risk are recommended to test more regularly. Testing every 3-6 months is often advised for men who have sex with men. 

Testing regularly helps keep your mind at rest, and if you test positive, it means you can start treatment quickly, protecting your health.

Should I wait to test for HIV?

If you have had unprotected sex, shared injecting equipment or think that you have been at risk some other way, then you should talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional as soon as possible. 

They will be able to talk to you about your situation and help you decide what to do next. If you visit a healthcare professional within 72 hours of when you think you were exposed to HIV, you may be offered PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). This is a course of emergency HIV treatment that can prevent HIV infection. It must be started within 72 hours and be taken properly. 

Unfortunately, PEP isn’t always available and healthcare providers may only give it to you if they feel you’re at a high risk of HIV. If you take PEP you’ll need to test before and after to ensure it has worked. 

If the time to take PEP has passed, then most modern HIV tests are now able to detect HIV from around four weeks after exposure. Depending on the type of test you are offered and when your risk was, your doctor may ask you to come back for further tests and a follow-up to check your results. 

If you think you have been exposed to HIV, it is in this early stage of infection that you are most likely to pass HIV on to others. Be extra careful during this time – use condoms and don’t share injecting equipment. 

A word about window periods... 

The window period refers to the time it takes for HIV to show up in an HIV test. The length of the window period will depend on the type of test you take.

If you feel like you may be at risk of HIV, do not wait, speak to a healthcare professional as soon as possible. The most important thing is to test. 

If you test negative but think you may have been exposed to HIV more recently, you can take another test once the window period has passed. 

A healthcare worker will be able to explain how long the window period is for the test you are taking, and will tell you if they think you’ll need to test for HIV again. 

Graham Mbewe

Few years ago I discovered about my HIV status, had to accept and start taking my ARVs. It has been a hard and crazy journey .
I was in isolation with fear that death will catch me soon because am HIV+ ,closing up my dreams and goals because of the misconceptions I had that someone on ART can't live a long life . Today U=U is achieved and I have a health positive life because I take my life saving ARV drugs everyday . Get tested and know your HIV status for the is more life even after HIV diagnosis
#NoShameAboutBeingHIV+

HIV long-Term Survivor Awareness Day 2021

Newly diagnosed with HIV

Finding out you have HIV can be a shock. It’s likely you will have a lot of questions and you may be dealing with difficult feelings.

Remember that an HIV diagnosis doesn’t have to stop you living a full and healthy life. With the right treatment and care, you can expect to live just as long as someone who doesn’t have HIV. HIV shouldn’t stop you doing the things you want to do in your life; whether it’s being in a relationship, having a family, or a particular career.

Giving yourself time

Everyone reacts differently when they find out they have HIV, but common feelings include shock, anger, fear or sadness. You may have questions about how you got the virus, and questions about what will happen to you.

All of these emotions and questions are natural. Learning more about HIV will help to answer your questions. You don’t have to manage on your own – having someone to talk to about your feelings can help. As well as healthcare staff, there are lots of HIV organizations, peer support groups and online forums that might provide you with support at this time.

Talking to a trusted friend or family member can also help you process your feelings. Read about sharing your HIV-positive diagnosis to get more information if you’re thinking about who you want to tell or how to tell them.

You may have good days and bad days, but give yourself time to get used to the news of your diagnosis and to learn about what it means for you.

Being honest with your healthcare professional

Be honest with your healthcare professional, they are not there to judge you, but help you make decisions so that they can plan and manage your care appropriately.

It’s important to share information such as your sexuality as well as your alcohol and drug use history, as these factors can contribute to different risks, for example, complications with your treatment or sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

If you have any underlying health conditions or STIs, it’s important to get treated for these too. Sometimes different treatments interact with each other, so your healthcare professional needs to know what other drugs you might be taking.

Do I need to start treatment?

The latest guidelines recommend that all people who are diagnosed with HIV should start treatment straight away.

Current treatment for HIV is not a cure, but it can keep HIV under control which keeps your immune system strong.

Once you start taking treatment, you will need to take it every day for life, so it’s important that you feel ready to start. Take your time to feel prepared and find out more about starting HIV treatment.

What happens now?

If you were tested in an HIV clinic, then you may be able to have your care in the same clinic. If you were tested somewhere else, they should make a referral to a specialist HIV clinic for you.

Your clinic may also offer you counseling, or will be able to put you in touch with an HIV support group. It can help to have someone to talk to in confidence about what’s happening and how you are feeling.

You are not alone. Take your time to process how you’re feeling. Although finding out you have HIV is a big piece of news to come to terms with, remember that many people are living long, healthy and fulfilled lives with HIV.

Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

In recent years, an overwhelming body of clinical evidence has firmly established the HIV Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U, concept as scientifically sound. U=U means that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load—the amount of HIV in the blood—by taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) daily as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. Thus, treatment for HIV is a powerful arrow in the quiver of HIV prevention tools. 
For nearly two decades, scientists have recognized that viral load is a key determinant of HIV transmission. Studies conducted before the availability of ART revealed that higher viral loads correlate with higher rates of both sexual and perinatal transmission of HIV. Following the advent of triple-drug ART in 1996, observational studies suggested that viral loads lowered by ART were associated with reduced risk of sexual and perinatal HIV transmission. In addition, epidemiological studies showed that as the number of people in a community who are virally suppressed rises, the number of new HIV transmissions falls.

Findings from the large NIAID-supported HPTN 052 clinical trial, which tracked more than 1,600 heterosexual couples over 10 years, offered clear-cut evidence that consistent suppression of HIV with ART prevents sexual transmission of the virus. HPTN 052 found that starting and sustaining treatment for HIV early, when the immune system is relatively healthy, essentially eliminated transmission of the virus. No HIV transmission was observed when ART consistently, durably suppressed the virus in the partner with HIV. While some transmission events did occur in the study, new transmissions only resulted when the partner with HIV was not fully virally suppressed due to either having just started ART, or for whom treatment no longer was working and the virus was replicating. The HPTN 052 results, along with those of the NIAID-funded START study, helped influence the World Health Organization in 2015 to recommend that everyone living with HIV should begin treatment upon diagnosis.

What is PrEP?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a course of HIV drugs taken by HIV-negative people to protect them against HIV infection.

Truvada is currently the only drug approved for use as PrEP. Truvada is a single pill that is a combination of two anti-HIV drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine. Truvada is the brand name for PrEP, but generic forms of PrEP are available which contain the same active drugs.

PrEP is different from PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis), which is an emergency treatment for HIV taken after possible exposure to the virus.

How does PrEP prevent HIV?

The anti-HIV drugs in PrEP stop the virus replicating in your body. If you are exposed to HIV, for example during sex without a condom, but have been taking PrEP correctly, there will be high enough levels of the drugs to prevent you from getting HIV.

How effective is PrEP?

If used consistently and correctly, PrEP will virtually eliminate the risk of you becoming infected with HIV.

A number of large, high profile trials undertaken across the world have continued to prove PrEP’s effectiveness.

If I take PrEP, can I stop using condoms?

This will depend on your circumstances. PrEP will protect you from HIV, but it doesn’t give you any protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Using a condom is the best way to prevent other STIs such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia and hepatitis C. PrEP also doesn’t prevent pregnancy.

Who can take PrEP?

PrEP is for people who are HIV-negative and more at risk of HIV infection. PrEP can be used by men and women, both trans and cisgender.

PrEP may be a good option for you if:

• you’re in an ongoing sexual relationship with a partner living with HIV who does not have an undetectable viral load.
• you’re a gay or bisexual man who has multiple sexual partners and you don't always use condoms.
• you’re a gay or bisexual man in a new sexual relationship but not yet aware of your partner’s HIV status and don’t always use condoms.
• you’re not using condoms with partners of the opposite sex whose HIV status is unknown and who are at high risk of HIV infection (for example, they inject drugs, have multiple partners, or have bisexual male partners)
• you have sex for money, or receive gifts for sex
• you’ve shared injecting equipment or have been in a treatment programme for injecting drug use.

Is PrEP effective for vaginal and anal sex?

Yes. PrEP can prevent HIV infection during both vaginal and anal sex, but there are different recommendations for how to take it depending on your gender and the sex you have.

How do I take PrEP?

There are two ways to take PrEP:

One tablet per day 

Recommended for:

• women (both trans and cisgender)
• transgender men having vaginal/frontal sex 
• men having vaginal or anal sex with women
• gay and bisexual men

Things to consider:

You will need to take PrEP for 7 days before you are protected, and then every day for as long as you want protection.

Event-based (on-demand) where you take PrEP before and after planned sex

Recommended for:

• gay and bisexual men

Things to consider:

This option would work for you if you are able to plan for sex at least two hours in advance or you can delay having sex for at least two hours.

There are different types of event-based PrEP depending on your pattern of sexual activity, so make sure you talk this option through with a health professional.

How can I start PrEP and how long do I take it for?

You must take an HIV test before starting PrEP to be sure that you don’t already have HIV. If you have HIV already then taking PrEP may increase the likelihood of developing drug resistance which makes HIV treatment less effective.

While you’re taking PrEP, you should visit your healthcare professional for regular check-ups (at least every three months).

Unlike HIV treatment, people do not stay on PrEP for life. PrEP is normally taken for periods of weeks, months or a few years when a person feels most at risk of HIV. This might be during specific relationships, after the break-up of a relationship and dating new people, when planning a holiday when you know you will be sexually active with new people whose status you may not know, while dealing with drug use problems, or when trying to conceive and one of you is known to be HIV positive.

Where is PrEP available?

Currently, PrEP is not available everywhere in the world and even in countries where it has regulatory approval (meaning it’s approved as medication) it may not be easy to get hold of for a number of political or resourcing reasons.

In some countries PrEP is available for free, or subsidised as part of the national health system, in other countries you will have to pay for it privately.

The good news is that international guidelines now recommend that PrEP should be made widely available, so even if it's not available to you right now, it may be an option in the future.

If you are interested in getting PrEP contact a healthcare professional who should be able to advise you on how you can do this. They will also be able to offer the advice, monitoring and support to help you take PrEP correctly and ensure you are fully protected.

There are also dedicated websites that can help you buy PrEP. However, taking PrEP without medical advice and monitoring has health risks, so you should always get a professional health check if you do buy PrEP online.

Does PrEP have any side effects?

In some people PrEP can cause minor side effects like nausea, vomiting, fatigue and dizziness, but these usually disappear over time.

In rare cases PrEP can also affect kidney functions.

If you’re taking PrEP and experience any side effects that are severe or don’t go away, tell your healthcare professional. 

Safer sex

Sex should be fun, enjoyable and pleasurable for both you and your partner.

Having unprotected sex can lead to unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Condoms are the best way to prevent this, so it is important that you know how to use them correctly.

If you take alcohol or drugs, be aware that they may cause you to make decisions that you wouldn’t normally make.

If you know how to have safer sex it can make you feel more relaxed and comfortable when having sex. 

HIV Myths

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about how you can get HIV. Here we debunk those myths and give you the facts about how HIV is passed on…

HIV can only be passed on from one person to another via the following bodily fluids:

• blood
• semen (including pre-cum)
• vaginal fluid
• anal mucous
• breast-milk.

HIV infection occurs when infected bodily fluids get into your bloodstream in these ways:

• unprotected sex (including sex toys)
• from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding
• injecting drugs with a needle that has infected blood in it
• infected blood donations or organ transplants.

You cannot get HIV from…

Someone who has an undetectable viral load

If a healthcare professional has confirmed that someone living with HIV has an undetectable viral load (meaning effective treatment has reduced the amount of virus in their blood so that it cannot be detected through a blood test) there is no risk of transmission. Undetectable = Untransmissable (U+U).

Someone who doesn’t have HIV

You can only get HIV from someone who is already living with HIV.

Touching someone who has HIV

HIV can only be transmitted through specific bodily fluids so you can’t get HIV from touching someone, hugging them or shaking their hand.

Kissing

There is such a small amount of HIV in the saliva of a person living with HIV that the infection can’t be passed on from kissing.

Sweat, tears, urine or faeces of someone who has HIV

HIV can’t be transmitted through sweat, tears, urine or faeces.1

Mutual masturbation

Mutual masturbation, fingering and hand-jobs can’t give you HIV. However, if you use sex toys make sure you use a new condom on them when switching between partners.

Used condoms

Outside of the body, HIV in semen can only survive for a very short amount of time. So, even if a condom had sperm from an HIV-positive person in it, it would not pose any risk.

Air

HIV can’t survive in air so you can’t get it from sharing a space with someone who is HIV-positive.

Coughs, sneezes or spit

There is only a trace of HIV in these bodily fluids so they can’t transmit HIV.

Food, drink and cooking utensils

HIV can’t be passed on through sharing food, drinks or cooking utensils, even if the person preparing your food is living with HIV.

Toilet seats, tables, door handles, cutlery, sharing towels

You can’t get HIV from any of these as it can only be transmitted through specific bodily fluids. 

Water

HIV can’t survive in water, so you can’t get HIV from swimming pools, baths, shower areas, washing clothes or from drinking water.

Insects

You can’t get HIV from insects. When an insect (such as a mosquito) bites you it sucks your blood only – it does not inject the blood of the last person it bit.

Animals

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which means that the infection can only be passed between humans.

New or sterilized needles

New needles can’t infect someone because they haven’t been in contact with infected blood. If used needles are cleaned and sterilized they can’t transmit HIV either.

Musical instruments

HIV can’t survive on musical instruments. Even if it is an instrument that you play using your mouth, it can’t give you HIV.

Tattoos and piercings

There is only a risk if the needle used by the professional has been used in the body of someone living with HIV and not sterilized afterwards. However, most practitioners are required by law to use new needles for each new client.

Can you get HIV through oral sex?

The risk of HIV from oral sex is very small unless you or your partner have large open sores on the genital area or bleeding gums/sores in your mouth.

There is only a slightly increased risk if a woman being given oral sex is HIV-positive and is menstruating. However, you can always use a dental dam to eliminate these risks.

Can you prevent HIV with..?

There are lots of urban myths about ways that you can protect yourself from HIV – from showering after sex or taking the contraceptive pill - to having sex with a virgin. In reality, if you are having sex, the only methods of HIV prevention are condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).  

If I get infected fluid from an HIV-positive person into my body will I definitely get HIV?

No, HIV is not always passed on from someone living with HIV. There are lots of reasons why this is the case. For example, if the HIV-positive person is on effective treatment it will reduce the amount of HIV in their body. If a doctor confirms that the virus has reached undetectable levels it means there is no risk of passing it on.

If you’re concerned that you’ve been exposed to HIV you may be eligible to take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which stops the virus from becoming an infection. However it’s not available everywhere and has to be taken within 72 hours of possible exposure to be effective.

The first stigma i experienced was from my own family members because of my HIV status.....
But I am still here living my life the best way I can and inspiring other people.
There is a beautiful life after your diagnosis, don't let people tell you otherwise

I AM GREATER THAN HIV.
I AM A BEAUTIFUL STORY....

Memory Katongo

Aged 22, Female, I grew up in Lusaka, my family was just cool before, but after I lost my father things changed, About my status in the family it is only my mum who knows, she is the only  one who knows because I started my meds since childhood. I went to Twin Palm secondary School.  I discovered in 2009 that I was positive, I am a very cool and happy person, I want to help people of my status, I also want to improve my education and see myself somewhere helping other who are in need. My knowledge about Covid 19 is that it is a virus that causes a lot of difficult things and has affected everything such as schools, normal life, public life, and many other things. HIV positive people need full time support during such unknown and uncertain times.