When she first realised her HIV status, the 8-year-old Doreen Moraa by then was given only four years to live.
Unless the higher percentage of victims, her condition was transmitted from her mother at birth, thus the uniqueness of the condition.
"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?" she narrates her ordeal.
Ms Moraa, in an interview with local media, recalled how she tried to explain to a suitor about her condition but all fell into deaf ears.
When they finally decided to visit a local facility for testing, she recalls, the suitor deserted her in the streets and completely blocked her from contact list.
"When results came out, he just disappeared and I have never heard from him. People think HIV is death sentence. We go through a lot out there."
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