My son was the reason I denounced my HIV status – Former AIDS Ambassador

Former AIDS Ambassador, Joyce Mensah has said denouncing her HIV status was to save her son from the public stigmatization.

Joyce Dzidzor Mensah, many Ghanaians believed was HIV positive and served for 5 years as an official HIV/AIDS Ambassador for Ghana AIDS Commission.

Five years later, she came public to say her HIV status was a sham – thus, she never contracted the deadly disease.

Explaining herself, she said she did what she did to help the AIDS Commission create awareness for the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus – plus she was treated as Ishmael by family and friends.

She later changed her story and indicated that she was HIV positive but had been cured. She went into hibernation only to resurface with another story cynics may consider cock and bull.

However, she narrated what ensued between Ghana AIDS Commission and her, concerning the task she was given and how they terminated the contract abruptly when she openly denounced her HIV status.

According to Joyce Dzidzor Mensah, the doctor who conducted series of test to prove if she had contracted HIV, revealed she has never contracted HIV/AIDS.

“The issue at stake now is not really whether I have HIV or not. At the time I was the Ambassador, No bank supported me, so I was surprised to see stories claiming I solicited for funds from Banks. The people who funded the movie I premiered at the National Theatre were Zoomlion, giving Ghc10,000, Equity Assurance gave me Ghc5,000 and JA Plant Pool also gave me GHc5,000.

“I took loan of Ghc15,000 from UT Bank to shoot my movie. I also took additional loans from my father-in-law and my Pastor. In all I spent about Ghc70,000 yet run at a lost. I couldn’t pay back the loans I took from my In-law and my pastor – Apostle Ahalivor who was the then Church of Pentecost, Madina Area Head.

“Ghana Aids Commission told me that they can’t buy me a car but anytime I have an event, there will be vehicle to convey me to the place. They also added that they will pay me Ghc 800.00 instead of the Ghc3,000 agreed amount every month for five years and rent an accommodation for me.

“My son was the reason I denounced my HIV/AIDS status because he was stigmatized in school. My son complained to me how his school colleagues mocked him because of my HIV/AIDS campaign. He told me to stop the Ambassadorial duties or he will stop schooling and I had no option than to heed to my son’s decision.

“I still had sex without protection with my husband but I don’t know about his status.” Joyce Dzidzor Mensah told Vibes in 5.