‎HIV/AIDS MYTHS EXPOSED: WHAT SCIENCE SAYS vs. WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD- RODGERS CHOOLWE.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)- It is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically the CD4 cells (T cells), which are very important for fighting infections. If left untreated, HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells, this weakens the immune system over time. It is transmitted through contact with certain body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, breast milk).  While AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)- It is the final and most severe stage of HIV infection. Which is Diagnosed when the CD4 count drops below 200 cells/mm³ or opportunistic infections or when cancers develop due to a severely weakened immune system. Study shows that without treatment, people with AIDS typically survive for about 3 years.

‎Lets now expose(dissect) the myths and some of the facts about HIV/AIDS.

1=MYTH: "You Can Tell If Someone Has HIV By Looking At Them"

‎FACT: This is False! HIV doesn’t come with a "sick look." A person can be HIV-positive for years and look completely healthy. The only way to know is through testing. Regular HIV testing saves lives. The sooner you know, the better the treatment!

‎2=MYTH: "You Can Get HIV From Kissing, Sharing Utensils or Touching"

‎FACT: This is so Wrong again! HIV is not a contagious disease. It’s mainly spread through:

‎✔️ Unprotected sex

‎✔️ Sharing needles

‎✔️ Mother-to-child transmission (during birth or breastfeeding)

‎NOTE= You can not get HIV from Kissing, hugging or shaking hands, Sharing food, water or toilet seats and Mosquito bites (Yes, some people do actually believe this!)

‎3=MYTH: "ARVs Are Just A Death Sentence Extension"

‎ FACT: actually the equation is

‎                 ARVs = Life

‎ARVs (Anti-retroviral drugs) don’t just “keep you alive.” They stop the virus from multiplying, protect your immune system and prevent transmission. With ARVs, people with HIV can live long, healthy and normal lives just like everyone else.

‎4=MYTH: "If I'm On ARVs, I Can Stop Taking Them When I Feel Better"

‎FACT: that's a Bad idea! Stopping the drugs gives you the equation 

‎   ARVs=Letting HIV regain strength

‎HIV is sneaky even if you feel okay, the virus is waiting for its chance to attack. Once you start ARVs, it’s a lifelong commitment. I'm order to avoid the virus gain strength consistency is key! Skipping doses can cause drug resistance, making treatment harder.

‎5=MYTH: "HIV-Positive People Can’t Have Healthy Relationships or Babies"

‎FACT: With the right treatment and precautions they can have health babies and relationships too. An HIV-positive person can have an HIV-negative partner without infecting them. Mothers on ARVs can give birth to HIV-negative babies (medical guidance is crucial). the equation for this is

‎                        U=U meaning

‎ (Undetectable = Untransmittable)

‎If your viral load is undetectable, you can’t pass HIV to your partner!, it's as simple as that, and study shows there are many healthy couples that are in this type of relationship (discondant relationship), Don't be misinformed.

‎6=MYTH: "There’s No Need To Use Protection If Both Partners Have HIV"

‎FACT: This is wrong information actually different HIV strains exist, and reinfection with a new strain can make treatment difficult. Hence the protective equation for this is

‎Protection + ARVs = Double defense!

‎there are some HIV strains that are resistance to medication hence the need to protect yourself even if you are already positive. Some people are defaulters and their HIV strain has developed resistance, If you are infected by this strain you also become resistant to certain medications making treatment harder.

‎7=MYTH: "I Can Drink Alcohol While Taking ARVs – No Problem!"

‎FACT: See while alcohol doesn’t directly stop ARVs from working, it CAN mess things up in someways such as,

‎•Liver overload: Both alcohol and ARVs are processed by your liver. Too much alcohol can stress your liver and affect how well ARVs work.

‎•Forgetfulness: Ever had one too many and forgotten your phone, wallet… or important things? Well, missing doses of ARVs give us the equation

‎missed ARV doses = drug resistance 

‎And that can make treatment harder.

‎•Risky behavior: Let’s be real – alcohol lowers inhibitions. It can lead to unsafe sex, which increases the risk of reinfection with a different HIV strain (as discussed above) or even other STIs. The Smart Choice to make is If you drink alcohol, you are better off stopping and never letting alcohol make you skip or delay your meds or weaken the effectiveness of the ARVs. The thing is your health comes first!

‎8=MYTH: "If I Take ARVs, I Don’t Need to Worry About HIV Prevention" (Truth about PrEP and PEP)

‎FACT: ARVs manage HIV, but if you’re HIV-negative and want to stay that way, there are two prevention options:

‎°PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) – This is like a seatbelt for HIV prevention! If you’re HIV-negative but at high risk (e.g., you have an HIV-positive partner), taking PrEP daily reduces the risk of infection by over 99%.

‎°PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) – Think of PEP as the emergency brake! If you’ve been exposed to HIV (e.g., unprotected sex, needle injury), taking PEP within 72 hours can prevent infection.

‎PrEP is for prevention. PEP is for emergencies. ARVs are for treatment. Know the difference & protect yourself.

‎9=MYTH: "There is a cure for HIV/AIDS."

‎FACT: As of today(31/03/25) there is still no cure for the HIV virus according to world health organization (WHO). ARVs are just for the management of the condition by reducing the Viral load and increasing the CD4 count hence making your immune system more stronger.

‎CONCLUSION

The above mentioned are myths that just won't die and are the biggest misconceptions that have been passed from one generation to another, today we are delited to have separated fear from the facts by reviewing the truth behind the myths. Here are some important points to note from the article

‎°Test regularly.

‎°Take ARVs consistently.

‎°Use protection.

‎°Live a full, happy life!

‎°don't be stigmatized be confident

‎

‎📩 Have questions, Email to us.

‎💬 Talk to us in the comment section.

‎

About the Author

‎Clinician. Rodgers Choolwe- dip. Clinical medical sciences, Cert. HIV/AIDS Counseling and Management for Paediatrics and Adults, BSc. Human Biology (Understudy).

‎