Renowned Nigerian gay rights activist, Bisi Alimi has opined that no amount of prayer and fasting can miraculously cure a person living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
The popular Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender (LGBT+) activist gained international attention when he became the first Nigerian to come out on television to reveal that he has HIV.
Alimi also took to his Instagram page where he shared his ‘HIV and Me’ story.
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He wrote,
“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.”
In a new development, Alimi who has been living good advised those living with the virus to live a happy life by thinking positively, exercising and taking their medications regularly.
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He also urged people living with the virus not to listen to naysayers.
“If you are HIV+, no amount of prayers and fasting will cure you. Take your medication, exercise, think positively and live a happy life. There is no healing in faith.
“Your viral load will only come down if you adhere and not by how days you pray or fast.
“If your viral load is taking long to come down, talk to your healthcare provider about it and be very honest about the lifestyle choices you have.
“Don’t mind the idiots laughing cos you are positive; at least you know. Many of them hide under their clothes, their greatest shame. Turn their stigma into your crown of glory”.
