Man commits suicide after HIV test

A Bulilima man, 43, on Wednesday committed suicide by hanging days after testing HIV positive while his wife with whom he had gone for a similar test was found to be negative.

Israel Ndlovu of Thandawana Village in Masendu area was found by his wife, Chipo Dube, hanging from the roof of their bedroom hut around 7pm.

Headman Mazwaligwe confirmed the incident saying Ndlovu hanged himself while his wife and children were in the kitchen preparing supper.

The headman said when Ndlovu’s wife went to their bedroom after supper was ready, she was met with the sight of Ndlovu’s lifeless body hanging from a rope tied to the roof.

Man commits suicide after HIV test

‘‘There is an incident of a man who hanged himself in my area. Ndlovu was seated with his family in their kitchen hut and around 7PM he left for the bedroom hut telling his wife that he was going to rest while awaiting his meal.

‘‘After an hour his wife went to the bedroom to call her husband but she found him dead, hanging from the roof of the hut,’’ said Headman Mazwaligwe.

He said before the suicide, Ndlovu and his wife had visited Masendu Clinic for an HIV test and results had shown that Ndlovu was positive while his wife tested negative.

Headman Mazwaligwe said there was a need to educate the rural folk more on HIV related issues and mechanisms to accept results after testing.
Nkosilathi Moyo, said the deceased never recovered from the depression he suffered after learning of his HIV status.

“It appears that the results of the tests frustrated him because he was depressed ever since the day. A week earlier my sister-in-law had persuaded her husband to go to the clinic for examination as he was constantly complaining of a headache.

“They then went for an HIV test together. Chipo said ever since they conducted that test my brother became depressed until the day he took his life,” he said.

Moyo said the death of his cousin had pained their family.

He said Ndlovu was the breadwinner for his family and his death had left a huge gap.

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