Real HIV issues with Duba

08/04/2026

HIV explained 👍

02/04/2026

Window period things 🤔

Hello ma'am. So I'm a bottom. My partner tested positive 2 months ago they gave him ARVs and gave me PEP since I tested negative. To my surprise when I went back last week I turned positive. How is that possible when I took PEP for a whole month and my partner had also started his ARVs? Is there something I'm missing here? Wasn't PEP supposed to protect me or something or could there be some kind of a mistake?

26/03/2026

You have two options. Tablets or injectables. Visit any government health facilities and you will be assisted.

20/03/2026

As the saying goes, you are either infected or affected. Received this in my inbox 👇

I grew up in a home where some family relatives had HIV. 2 of my cousins had HIV. It was really difficult. My elder cousin died due to stigma and fear of taking drugs. My younger cousin suffered from TB and severe anaemia and finally gave in after completing grade 12, and she had good results. The sister to my mum is a soul survivor. She suffered TB of the spine and stopped walking. We nursed her for a year. Her business went under, and friends went and lost everything 🥹 but we thank God she accepted her status and she recovered. I even used to collect the ART drugs for her. Am happy she is very fit and healthy. She has been on ART for over 25 years if my memory saves me right.
Now, the most painful part is that my own mum was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 while I was doing nursing. It hurts me because despite learning about HIV, doing nursing, and having cousins with the condition, I failed to see it. At first, my mother had herpes zoster (shingles), but we ignored it and continued treating that with painkillers and other medications.

The time my family realised, it was too late. She was admitted to the hospital. Within 3 days, she lost so much weight, and my studies were greatly affected. What even made it worse was that my own classmates (some) were even allocated to the same general ward where my mother was. Now imagine my friends/ classmates reading my mothers file. I was heartbroken. Then, this Nigerian doctor discharged her despite not being fully well. She was put on hAART. She started having hallucinations, etc. At home, the condition changed. So, as a family, we decided to take her to a mission hospital because we felt they would manage her better. Unfortunately, she just stayed there, i think, for 4 days, and she died.

What hurts even more from what I heard from my aunties is that my dad was taking drugs behind my mums back.

So when people talk ill about PLWHIV, I get personal because I have seen it all, and I have felt it.
Even in my practice, I have attended to a lot of people who gave up on taking their medication 💊 even reaching the extent of chasing relatives because they wanted to see my patients sign LAMA and go home. But I have stood by them and nursed them and am proud to say alot have recovered. Even when some of my colleagues would decline to enter the TB room, I would gladly enter without any second thoughts.

I really appreciate you, Madam, Duba, with the work you, do. Your activism, both in your community and social media, has saved a lot of lives. May God continue blessing you and long life on you.

18/03/2026

PrEP only protects you from HIV and not other STIs or unwanted pregnancies.

13/03/2026

Let's educate each other. What do you think?

13/03/2026

Did you know that even in Zambia it's a criminal offense to knowingly infect someone with HIV? But you need to prove that you were negative before meeting the person you claim to have infected you.

Investigators say the case began when a man reported being diagnosed with HIV after having s*x with 34‑year‑old Julieann Pixley, who allegedly never disclosed her status. https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-west-palm-beach-woman-accused-of-not-disclosing-hiv-status/70722505

06/03/2026

Viral suppression happens within 10-14 days but attaining an undetectable viral load has no definite period. Some can attain an undetectable viral within 3 months and some can take as long as a year due to different factors. At the end of the day adherence is the major key. And adherence is not just taking one's medication as prescribed. Other things have to also be followed eg avoiding reinfection.

26/02/2026

If one can smell HIV then people wouldn't sleep with people who are HIV positive. It's just a myth. We all have body odors. The only difference is that some have strong body odors which others can easily smell. That doesn't mean someone is HIV positive.

26/02/2026

Good day

Just a quick one. My partner has an undetectable viral load but I’m scared that my status might change or the Prep somehow delays the window i had negative test June 2025,July 2025,September 2025,November 2025 and January 2026. I’m always scared my results might change.

26/02/2026

Let's talk about U=U AGAIN. I say again because despite me teaching about it I still see comments from a lot of people saying that the negative partner should still be on PrEP despite their positive partner having an undetectable viral load. Shockingly even some health personnel give this advice 🤔. Most of you know that I was in a discordant relationship for 10 years. And in those 10 years my ex and I only used condoms in the first year of our relationship. In 2014 when they started using viral load to determine how one is responding to treatment my viral load came out undetectable. And the first thing my Dr told me was that I couldn't transmit the virus to my partner through s*xual transmission. That was a game changer for us and from that moment we stopped using condoms. He had never been on PrEP either. For the next 9 years of our relationship we never used condoms and he remains negative to this day. So when I talk, I talk from personal experience and not theory. Let me give you an AI Overview 👇

AI Overview

U=U stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable, a scientifically proven concept meaning people living with HIV who take effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and achieve an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus to s*xual partners. It means the virus is present but at such low levels it cannot be detected by tests or spread.

Key Details About U=U:

Scientific Backing: Extensive studies (e.g.,

PARTNER studies) found zero cases of s*xual transmission from partners with an undetectable viral load.

Definition: "Undetectable" generally means having less than 200 copies/mL of blood, measured by a viral load test. (Note: Current guidelines indicate 20 copies/mL and below as undetectable)

Requirements: Requires consistent, daily adherence to prescribed HIV medication.

Scope: Applies specifically to the s*xual transmission of HIV.

Impact: Reduces HIV stigma, empowers people with HIV, and is supported by global health organizations.

It is important to note that while U=U prevents s*xual transmission, it does not prevent the transmission of other s*xually transmitted infections (STIs).