Popular Nigerian gay rights activist, Bisi Alimi has taken to social media to commemorate his 47th birthday and 18th-year anniversary of his HIV diagnosis.
The writer and blogger disclosed that he had been living with the virus since he was 29.
He stated that HIV does not kill but many carriers die because of the stigma they face from society.
“Eighteen years ago, at the National AIDS conference in Abuja and with nudging from friends, I walked into a testing booth for the first time.
“I walked out with HIV-positive test result. Two years before then, I had just lost my best friend to AIDS, and he was around 26 years.
“I have been living with HIV since I was 29. This year I clocked 47.
“Between 2004 and 2009, I kept quiet about my HIV status because of shame and stigma. Then I realised HIV doesn’t kill, it is stigma, the shame and the discrimination that does.
“Here is to 18 years of positivity and many more years to come. Please, get tested today.”