Doctors told me I had 4 years to live,' Brave Doreen Moraa living with HIV/AIDs narrates

Piece by: Caren Nyota
Lifestyle

On December 1, World's Aids day, those living with HIV/AIDs celebrated it differently. Some chose to share their stories, other chose to create awareness about their status and 26-year-old Doreen Moraa, took to social media to narrate her life journey living with the virus.

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Doreen, a brave soldier, who is never afraid of sharing her story, revealed that she was told by doctors that she had only four years to live after she was diagnosed with the virus. Doreen Moraa, narrated how she has faced stigma and discrimination but the brave woman she is, she has not let that deter her from being herself.

Below is the message she shared on World's Aids day;

My name is Doreen Moraa Moracha 26 years ago I was born to a HIV discordant couple mum is positive, dad is negative (they are still together) I am a third born in a family of 5,4 of us are still alive my little brother went to be with the Lord my other 3 siblings are HIV negative.

The journey has been good, bad and ugly my doctors gave me just 4 years to live when my parents found out I am HIV positive but 18 years later I am still here going strong dealing with self-stigma, societical stigma, discrimination and rejection but still standing strong today is world AIDS day and the theme is "know your status and get tested" most people fear HIV because they know it is a death sentence well I'm here to prove you wrong I've been living positively for 26 years so if it was a death sentence shouldn't I be dead already?lets break down the myths and misconceptions let's stop the stigma, let's love and appreciate PLWHIV because if you are not infected you are definitely affected.

People say I make HIV look easy but it is easy I am not ready to give a small virus power over my life I accepted my status and everyday I declare that I am GREATER THAN HIV.

Now go out there take that HIV test or better still go to a pharmacy near you and buy the self-test kit and know your status from the comfort of your home.

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Moraa added that;

When I first started talking about my HIV status back in 2015, I had no idea that 3 years later I'd still be talking about it. THANK YOU for the thousands of messages even though I haven't replied to some I promise I will. And for as long as y'all put up with me I'll keep talking about living as a healthy happy HIV positive person. If my story and me living my truth shows you can live openly, proudly and honestly about your HIV status then I'm happy. let's stop the stigma, get tested and take our ARVS faithfully.

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