"IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN"

 
Welcome to POSITIV+.

POSITIV+ is a weekly newspaper devoted exclusively to the subject of HIV/AIDS. It will be delivered to you every week – absolutely free. Like all community newspapers POSITIV+ will also carry display and classifieds ads from your area, so that it is of practical assistance to you in your daily life.

There is hardly anyone who has not heard about AIDS today – including those who are illiterate and uneducated. But no matter how well educated you are, just how much do you know about this disease? Do you know enough to defend yourself and your family from getting infected? In the event of contracting the illness, how do you continue to live a productive life? These are some of the questions that POSITIV+ will answer for you.

This publication is also concerned, naturally, with those who are living with the virus in them already. Here you will find information that will help you cope with your HIV Positive status. This paper will act as an instrument in reaching you any assistance that you might need in the treatment and management of your condition.

Right at the outset, we would like to take the opportunity to assure you that we will not subject you to pedantic medical treatises…… The necessary information will be presented to you in simple plain English, easily understood by anyone familiar with the language. It will also be presented to you in an attractive manner which makes the reading a pleasant experience.

Those who are living with the virus know the seriousness of their situation. This paper is meant to caution the others that the disease is not to be taken lightly. Once you are infected, it is too late already. It may not kill you immediately. It may not kill you at all. But, your life is not the same anymore.

Yes, it is possible to continue a fairly normal routine. But your freedom of action does get circumscribed in many subtle and not so subtle ways. There is the constant possibility of contracting other infections – what are referred to as opportunistic infections. It could be just a common cold or the flu. Or it could be malaria or tuberculosis. Remember – now your immune system is shot to hell. Just about any serious infection could put an end to your life. At this moment let me also mention in passing, that many of the medications that keep you going with your infection could also have severe side effects – making life pretty damned difficult.

There is only one sensible approach to HIV/AIDS:  and that is -- not to get infected. And, right now, you are holding the answer to that idea right in your hands. That is right: POSITIV+. INFORMATION – that is your only defense against possible infection.

There is one line said by practically every single person who has tested positive for HIV. That is: If only I had known. Make sure that you never have the occasion to say those terrible words.

It will help you to remember that all the tens of millions of people who said those words were not any different from you and me. You will meet many of them in the pages of this paper. Ordinary people leading ordinary lives. Sometimes, extra-ordinary people leading special lives. The rich and the poor. All their lives blighted by this disease, which is justifiably referred to as “dreaded”. Make no mistake about it. It is dreaded, for very good reasons.

One last thought, at this juncture. HIV/AIDS differ from other crippling/killer diseases in one very important aspect. IT IS ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE. Yes, that is right. You can see to it that you do not ever test positive. This cannot be said of any other illness, minor or major.

So here is wishing you a life free of HIV/AIDS. For once in life, be negative! Imagine – that is the objective of POSITIV. To keep you, your family and friends NEGATIVE. For life.

So, stay with us. Week, after week. Happy reading!