My battle with HIV- Female MP

Princess Kasune, 40, is one of Zambia's most outspoken HIV activists and was elected as an opposition MP in August Photo: Courtesy

I tested positive to HIV in 1997 and the next year I went public about my status, defying my husband - and traditional taboos - in doing so.

I felt like a ray of light had hit me after testing positive and I shouted 'Praise God!' Such a reaction was not humanly possible even for me to understand but I looked at it as an avenue to change the lives of others. When I realised that I was HIV-positive, I realised that I had a responsibility to spread the news from how it can be contracted, to how it can be prevented and also breaking the stigma and the silence.