“I Contracted HIV the First Time I Cheated on My Wife 31 Years Ago” — Nigerian Man Shares His Story

Salisu Ahmed, a Nigerian man, has come forward to share his 31-year journey living with HIV, revealing that he contracted the virus following his first extramarital affair. In a revealing interview with reality star Doyin David, Ahmed described the profound impact this experience has had on his life.

Ahmed recounted that his infection began after he strayed from his marriage. “I contracted HIV the first time I cheated on my wife 31 years ago,” he said. He explained that his initial encounter outside his marriage led to the infection, noting that a significant proportion of HIV cases are linked to sexual transmission.

The consequences of his actions were severe. Ahmed faced considerable stigma, including being barred from using shared facilities, losing his teaching position, and being abandoned by his wife and children. “I was denied access to the bathroom, asked to leave my job, and my family left me,” he detailed.

This disclosure comes at a time when the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) estimates that about two million Nigerians are living with HIV. Recent advancements in treatment include a potential natural remedy developed by the Biochemist Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BPAoN), which may offer new hope in managing the virus.

Additionally, a landmark case in 2022 saw a 66-year-old man achieve long-term remission from HIV following a stem cell transplant. This patient, who received stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation, became the oldest person in the world to experience such remission, as reported by the City of Hope Medical Centre in the US.