Nigerian gay rights activist and HIV/LGBT advocate, Bisi Alimi, as he celebrates his 47th year birthday revealed that he had spent 18 years living with Human Immune Virus (HIV).
According to the rights activist, he discovers HIV doesn’t kill.
He however noted that it’s the shame, and discrimination that send many of those with the virus to their early graves.
Bisi via his verified Instagram page, Wednesday revealed that he contracted the virus when he’s 29 years old.
He said “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 26yrs.
“I have been living with HIV since I was 29, this year I clocked 47.
“Between 2004-2009, I kept quiet about my HIV status cos of shame and stigma.
“Then I realised, HIV doesn’t kill, it is stigma, the shame and the discrimination that does.
“Here is to 18yrs of positivity and many more years to come. Please get tested today.”