Obbly Michael Chilufya

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably remember how HIV was spoken about in whispers, in fear, and in judgment.

Back then, people said,

“Don’t sit near them.”
“Don’t share a cup.”
“You’ll get it from a hug.”
And for anyone living with HIV… life became a silent prison.
People hid their medicine in sugar tins,threw their pills away,burned their clinic cards,and cried quietly at night because even their own families treated them like they were contagious.

Back then, HIV wasn’t just a virus, it was a sentence.
A label.
A curse in the eyes of the world.

So many people died not just because of HIV,
but because of stigma, they were too afraid to get tested,
too ashamed to take their meds,
too broken to believe they still deserved life and love.

Fast forward to today we know better.
HIV is manageable.
People on treatment can live long, healthy lives
and when the virus is undetectable, it’s untransmittable.

But here’s the sad part
That’s what we call self-stigma
when you start believing those old lies about yourself and your diagnosis.

You may look strong on the outside,
but inside, you still hear that voice:

“No one will love me.”
“I can’t date.”
“I can’t have kids.”

But the truth?
You can.
You deserve love, family, success, and peace.
The 90s were full of fear
Because HIV didn’t kill our dreams stigma did.
And now, we’re taking them back. ❤️

Some men think “pë.nïs hygiene” means just bath and go.

Oga, that thing between your legs is not bulletproof.

Here are hygiene tips every man should know:

1. Wash properly, pull the skin back and clean well (if you’re not circumcised).

2. Use mild soap and water, not harsh perfume soap.

3. Change your boxers daily, yes, daily.

4. After urinating, shake well, don’t baptize your boxers.

5. Trim hair around there, no be forest.

6. After s.êx, clean up.

Hygiene no be only for women.

Cleanliness is not pride, it’s protection.

OMC
clinic

DIGRAPHS!!!

Digraphs are two letters coming together to make one sound.

HIV Cases Increase Among Young Women in Zambia

By Nyambe Nalishebo

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS –UNAIDS- has raised alarm over a sharp increase in HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia.

Speaking to ZNBC News, UNAIDS Zambia Country Director, ISAAC AHEMESAH, revealed that new HIV cases among young people aged 15 to 24 have risen dramatically, from 28,000 in 2023 to 30,000 in 2024.

Mr. AHEMESAH attributed the spike to several factors, including declining condom use, limited access to health services, and persistent cultural challenges such as child marriage and gender-based violence.

He said UNAIDS is working closely with the Zambian government to roll out combination prevention strategies, including wider access to condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis –PrEP- options.

However, Mr. AHEMESAH expressed concern that funding cuts could severely hamper these efforts.

I hear that
MOST WOMEN ARE DATING FOR
SURVIVAL
NOT REALLY LOVE 💕😘

*GOLDEN RULES IN LIFE*

1. *Respect 3 People*
*. Teachers
*. Parents
*. Elderly

2. *Keep 3 things in you*
*. Honesty
*. Faith
*. Good Deeds

3. *Be Free from 3 things*
*. Arrogance
*. Cheating
*. Debts

4. *Control 3 things*
*. Tongue
*. Anger
*. Appetite

5. *Reject 3 things*
*. Bad deeds
*. Backbiting
*. Jealousy

6. *Obtain 3 things*
*. Knowledge
*. Understanding
*. Wisdom

7. *Build on 3 things*
*. Good counsel
*. Good Manners
*. Godliness with contentment

8. *Keep 3 things pure*
*. Body
*. Clothes
*. Thoughts

9. *Remember 3 things*
*. Death
*. Hell
*. Heaven

10. *Protect 3 things*
*. Family
*. Future
*. Friends

11. *Work on 3 things*
*. Vision
*. Trust
*. Faith

12. *Run away from 3 things*
*. Sin
*. Pride
*. Bad association

13. *Love 3 People*
*. God
*. Yourself
*. Others.

*TOO LATE TO APOLOGISE*

"Where are you coming from by this time of the night?"

He thundered.

"Honey you won't believe what happened today. Oh God I'm so tired right now."

She replied as she yawned.

"I asked where you are coming from and you are vomiting rubbish. Does that answer my question? Are you trying to pretend you don't know there's no food in this house?"

He said fuming.

"Honey I'm sorry but you should hear me out first. I...."

Before she could complete that sentence, a thunderous slap kissed her left cheek and she passed out on the sofa.

"Get my dinner ready, after that you will tell me why you switched off your phone."

He said as he walked towards the bedroom.

When he noticed there was no response from his wife, he was infuriated.

He rushed towards her to unleash the rest of the demon in him but on getting close to her, he discovered she has passed out.

He was shocked.

Cold sweat appeared on his forehead and raced down his temple.

Fear gripped him.

He began to panic.

He dashed into the bedroom, picked his car key and darted out of the house to open his car.

He rushed back into the house almost immediately, lifted his wife and headed to his car.

As he made to start the ignition, the car key fell off his hand.

He was visibly shaking.

Picking up the car key proved to be a difficult task to him as he couldn't get hold of it.

He succeeded but had to use both hands to start the car ignition. His shaky hands turned against him.

His heart was racing.

He couldn't hold the steering firmly but he managed to drive his way to the hospital.

Getting to the hospital, he alerted the nurses. His wife was rushed into the emergency ward.

He became restless.

After about five minutes, his doctor appeared to him.

"Good evening Mr Collins."

"Good evening doctor, how's my wife?"

He said with great panic.

"Your wife was here few hours ago. She brought your mum to the hospital before going home and if she had been ten minutes late, your mum would have died.

She wanted to alert you but her phone battery went flat. I would have called you but she said she will notify you when she get home. What really happened?"

The doctor asked.

"Doctor, is my wife okay?"

He asked with teary eyes.

"Your mum is in the other ward Mr Collins."

The doctor replied.

He couldn't hide his impatience as he gripped the doctor's shirt.

"What about my wife doctor? Is she okay?"

The doctor managed to pull his hands off his shirt before letting the cat out of the bag.

"I'm sorry Mr Collins, your wife couldn't make it. She's dead.

He was shocked.

Cold shivers ran down his spine.

He began to shake.

Hot tears welled up his eyes and as he made an attempt to speak, they raced down his cheeks.

Liquid fluids leaked out of his nostrils and wetted his lips. His shirt became drenched with sweat.

He wanted to man up but he couldn't.

He groaned in pain and let out a mad shout.

"Noooooo!!!"

But then, it was too late to correct his mistake.

He should have heard her first as requested by her.

He should have controlled his anger.

He shouldn't have laid his hand on her.

He should have been patient with her.

He shouldn't have....

He should have....

But he didn't.

It was too late to apologize.

Don't make such a mistake.

*SAY NO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!!!*

6 Red Flags That Show Your Relationship Might End Anytime Soon


The very nature of Love and relationship itself requires compromise; overlooking some things that doesn’t
necessarily sit well with you just to be with another person.
So in the real sense, it is a thin rope to walk when you try to identify developments that could signal the
beginning of an end in a relationship. How do you determine these signs are not to be accommodated
because they will spell doom? Will you always rely on your instincts or there are one or two lessons you can
pick from other people’s experience to situate yours.
Remember no two relationships are exactly the same and it is difficult to outsmart someone that sets to
swindle you without your consciousness. But in the multitude of counsels, there is always wisdom. I have
compiled six relationship red flags to watch out for, using feedback from other people’s real life
experiences. I hope you find them useful.

1. A Noticeable Gap In Communication.
Once communication slacks between you and your partner, you have every reason to be alert. Relationship
is hard work and it is not impossible to feel distracted by life’s vicissitudes ( work pressure, family pressure,
social media, friends) but if someone wants to be with you, they will always create time for you. It is very
simple and straightforward. We always wangle time for our vices how much more someone we cherish? If
you notice a steady decline in the communication line between you and your partner, it is advisable to be
watchful while you keep doing your part for a while. If there’s no noticeable change, you can confront him
or her to know what is really wrong. A tangible alibi should douse your suspicion a little but if he or she
says, “nothing”, that’s a proper relationship red flag; don’t ignore.

2. Deliberate And Consistent Omission of Your
Person in Future Plans.
It is bad enough to date someone who rarely shares their future plans with you but worse is those who lack
the discipline to keep shut about their future plans and go on talking about it without creating a role for
you in it. Motivational speakers will tell you you can’t feature in a future you can’t picture. Lol. So if your
partner constantly talks about their dreams and you never feature in the picture, they are planning a future
without you. It is a no brainer. It doesn’t necessarily mean they love you less but it certainly means they
can do without you in the future and honestly feel less bothered by the fact.

3. S*x.
This is a double-edged sword. On one side is the partner who you discover aside s*x, nothing meaningful
connects you as two people in a relationship. When you meet, it is s*x, awkward silence, more s*x and
more awkward silence till you meet again. Whoever is initiating that s*x has no future plan for the other
beyond more s*x till they get bored. On the other side is if you notice you no longer enjoy s*x with your
partner or feel your partner no longer enjoy s*x with you. Or better put, once s*x becomes a perfunctory
exercise, then it is a relationship red flag. Either of the duo involved might drop the breakup bombshell
anytime. The heart is no longer in the relationship and it might have no future.


4. Persistent Breakup Threats.
This is pardonable in the early days of relationship when either party might still be unsure of what they are
getting themselves into. Breakup threat at this stage could pass for insecurity. But when breakup threats
becomes persistent in a relationship that is over a year, then it is apparent the person making the threat
might no longer be sure of their decision to remain in the relationship. Their actions can best be
understood by how Naija politicians take decisions. They first plant rumours in the media to gauge public
perception before taking bold political steps. So the partner threatening with a breakup is most likely
preparing your mind. Someone that can’t afford to lose you won’t indulge in such recklessness. This is
another relationship red flag that you can’t afford to ignore.

5. Keeping Identity and Status Secret.
Huge scam. If someone truly wants to be with you and has made up their mind to be with you, even
against better judgement, they will show you off to the world. How does someone who doesn’t keep the
identity of his or her parents and siblings secret keep yours as future partner secret? It means you’re not
seen as becoming family yet. It is okay really especially at the initial stage of a relationship but when you’ve
both invested quality time and looking forward to happily ever after, this simple gesture would come
naturally. If it doesn’t, something is off! Don’t swallow bu****it like keeping it on the low in public when
same person whispers future promises to you in private.

6. Sudden Behavioral Change.
If you’ve been in a relationship with someone long enough to consider a future together then you should
be able to spot sudden changes that is not in tandem with who they are or posed to be when it all began.
There’s a level of consistence expected from someone planning future with you simply because they are
not acting a script. Someone acting will soon slip up. Human character is like smoke that can not be
hidden. So when you notice changes like, quick temper, spiritual dimension, late night calls, secrecy with
communication gadgets etc, they could be serious relationship red flags! Beware!
Which other relationship red flags do you know, please share in the comments section below. Thank you.