Salisu Ahmed, a 66-year-old Nigerian, has become the fourth person globally and the oldest to achieve long-term remission from HIV following a pioneering stem cell transplant.
This remarkable medical milestone comes after Ahmed’s sorrowful journey of living with the virus for over three decades.
Salisu Ahmed’s life took a dramatic turn when he was diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 31 years ago.
In a recent interview with reality star Doyin David, Ahmed revealed that his infection stemmed from his first extramarital affair, an experience that has deeply impacted his life.
Reflecting on his past, Ahmed shared, “I am Salisu Ahmed, I have been living with this virus for 31 years. The first experiment of going outside my matrimonial home is how it happened.
“It has been proven that about 85 to 90 per cent of people living with HIV contracted this thing through sexual intercourse.”
His journey was marked by severe stigma and personal loss. Ahmed recounted the discrimination he faced, including being barred from using shared facilities and losing his teaching position.
“I was denied the use of the bathroom of the compound, I was not allowed to access the toilet, I was formerly a teacher, so I was asked honourably to stop coming to the school.
“She packed everything, including the children at home, they left me,” he said, reflecting on the emotional and social toll of his diagnosis.
Ahmed’s story took a transformative turn when he underwent a stem cell transplant at the City of Hope Medical Centre in the United States.
According to the centre’s statement, Ahmed entered remission after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy.
The procedure, which involved stem cells from a donor with a rare genetic mutation, has positioned Ahmed as a remarkable case in the ongoing battle against HIV.
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