Man hangs himself over HIV test results

By Yamikani Yapuwa

A 40 years old man on Sunday committed suicide by hanging in his bedroom over his HIV results at Ntopwa area in Bangwe Township in Blantyre.

Limbe Police Deputy Publicist, Widson Nhlane who identified the deceased as Mike Gilbert said reports from the deceased brother in-law show that the deceased tested HIV positive in August this year.

“According to the deceased’s brother in-law, Mussah Jamali, Gilbert has been feeling unwell for some time and on August 28, 2018, he went to Bangwe Health Centre for HIV testing and results came positive.

“The deceased was not happy with this development and on September 16 in the morning hours, he was found hanging in his bedroom,” said Nhlane.

Nhlane said the matter was reported to Police who took him to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where he was confirmed dead before receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, Police is advising members of the public not to kill themselves if tested HIV positive because it is not the end of life but rather they should follow the advice given by the medical experts or counsellors to live positively.

The deceased hailed from Kadzuwa Village in Traditional Authority Ndamera in Nsanje District.-Mana