Hiding his Status

“I asked about his status even before marrying him, and he told me that he was okay. He said he was negative.” A young girl from Lusaka’s Mtendere area has expressed her shock after finding out her husband of three years was HIV. He had been keeping it a secret from her according to a local newspaper report.

The report indicates that she was first suspicious when she found antiretroviral tablets in their bedroom. When she confronted him, he said that they belonged to his cousin - who was embarrassed to collect them herself.

The next time however she found clear evidence. This time it was a clinic card indicating that her husband was HIV positive and on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).

She could not bring herself to talk to him for several hours. He confessed having been on ARVs for some time. He said he and had wanted to tell her the truth for ages but 'could not find the right time'.

The report indicates that she has left him and has moved in with family members. It does not confirm if she has tested positive herself yet.

If you have not tested together can you really trust your lover? If you don’t see the results of an HIV test then you need to always use a condom or femidom to protect yourself. If you do test positive you need to tell your partner, and any previous sexual partners. There is no right way to tell them ... any method (even a text) is better than nothing.

Do you think it’s a crime not to tell your partner if you are positive. What should happen to this couple?