He, however, says he has never taken antiretroviral drugs to subdue the virus but has been able to stay healthy and maintain a CD4 count above 600.

The former National Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria said he has for years depended on daily intake of fruits, eating a balanced diet, living a positive lifestyle and doing regular exercise to stay healthy.

Most people feel devastated after testing positive for the virus.

As a medical practitioner, he took his diagnosis in stride and has been living a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life with the virus for almost thirty years.

The 68-year-old doctor got to know his HIV status after the blood he donated to save a patient who needed a blood transfusion at his private clinic was screened.

“So, I was called one evening that a patient needed blood transfusion at a private clinic and I donated my blood but they have to screen the blood.

I have been living with the virus since then and there has been no problem,” he told PUNCH HealthWise.

Matemilola was a former National Coordinator, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and has contributed immensely, to HIV mitigation interventions both nationally and internationally.

He said for the past thirty years, he has never taken antiretroviral drugs to subdue the HIV virus and he has been able to maintain a CD4 count above 600.