66-year-old Nigerian Salisu Ahmed became the fourth person in the world to be cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant.
Ahmed revealed in a recent interview that he contracted the virus after his first extramarital affair 31 years ago. "I was not allowed to use the bathroom in the compound and was not allowed to go to the toilet. I used to be a teacher so I was respectfully asked to stop attending school," Ahmed said, according to Punch. His family also abandoned him, further compounding the isolation he endured.
Life-changing stem cell transplants are performed at City of Hope Medical Center. After stopping antiviral therapy, Ahmed went into remission, the center said in a statement. He is now the fourth person in the world and the oldest person to achieve long-term HIV remission. The medical team used stem cells from a donor who carried a rare genetic mutation that prevented the virus from replicating.
Ahmed's story is one of hope for those around the world fighting the virus, and demonstrates the potential of advanced medical treatments.
Comments