I know my status

The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, has just gone by. It is at this time of the year that we recommit ourselves to the fight against HIV/AIDS through various activities including HIV/AIDS testing, providing infrastructural support to those infected and also supporting the families of those who are infected and /or lost their loved ones to the disease. As part of the struggle against this pandemic I have conducted my HIV test and I know my status.

There is so much terror spread amongst our people about the unfortunate prospect of testing HIV positive which scares many from testing. The reason I often test is because I know that not testing and not knowing does not mean that I am negative.

The only way one can determine whether they are infected or not is through testing. Then you know whether you are positive or negative. There are consequences for both results. If you are positive you have health and moral obligations to look after yourself in that you do not spread the virus and you also protect your immune system from the attack by the virus. On the other hand if you are negative you have a moral duty to make sure that you do not ever get infected.

There are a number of obstacles facing the struggle against the disease which must be removed. The first one is the brutal oppression of scientific study on the origin of the disease, the way it is spread, its effect on the immune system and the effects of mainstream antiretroviral drugs. The second one is commercialization of HIV/AIDS treatment by pharmaceutical profiteers. The third one is the suppression of African and other herbal remedies that have proved effective in reducing the effect of the virus on the immune system. The fourth one is the suppression of research and development of a cure for HIV/AIDS and boycott of the necessary funding by so called developed countries and the scientific establishment.

These forces are part of the imperialist system and have puppets all over the world that panders to HIV/AIDS orthodox tendencies. These forces are not interested in solving the HIV/AIDS pandemic and subtly support perpetual carnage of the poor working class masses by the disease.

These obstacles must be uprooted by the poor African working class masses who are victimized by this disease. The first battle we can easily win is to know our status and knowing as well that there are various effective treatment options available other than the drugs pushed by pharmaceutical companies. We must not continue to die in this day and age when HIV/AIDS can be treated effectively. HIV/AIDS warfare can be defeated.