Aging with HIV: What I’d Tell My Younger Self This Men’s Month By: Timothy Okunade
Posted: June 16, 2026
When I was diagnosed with HIV in 1999, the world looked very different than it does today. Back then, treatment options were limited, and many of us were navigating fear, uncertainty, and stigma without knowing what the future would hold. I did not have many medications to turn to, so I leaned heavily on my faith. I prayed, I fasted, and I trusted that somehow, I would make it through. Today, at 59 years old, I can look back and see just how much has changed. I have watched science advance in ways I never imagined. What once felt impossible is now reality for many people living with HIV: effective treatment, viral suppression, longer lives, and the opportunity to age with dignity and purpose. I take one pill a day, remain undetectable, and continue to live a full and meaningful life.
Aging with HIV is not always easy. It means keeping up with appointments, staying engaged in care, paying attention to your health, and maintaining strong connections with community. But it also means having the chance to grow older—a gift many of us were never sure we would receive.
If I could sit down with my younger self, I would tell him: “Hold on. Your life is not over. Treatment is coming. Stay in care. Take the medication when it becomes available. Keep your faith. God and science are not enemies. One day, you’ll grow older, and it will be beautiful.”
That message is one reason I participated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign. The campaign works to reduce HIV stigma, promote testing, encourage prevention, and support people living with HIV so they can live long, healthy lives.
My journey has also been strengthened through leadership opportunities that allow people aging with HIV to share their experiences and advocate for their communities. As a member of NMAC’s 2025 50+ Strong & Healthy Program cohort, I joined other leaders from across the country committed to improving the health, wellness, and quality of life of older adults living with HIV. The program helped amplify our voices and reminded us that our stories matter.
This Men’s Health Month, I am grateful for the faith that carried me, the science that helps me thrive, and the community that continues to support people aging with HIV. We are living proof that HIV is no longer the end of the story. We are still here. Still believing. Still leading. Still aging. And together, we can help end HIV while ensuring that everyone living with HIV can grow older, healthier, and stronger.
Let’s Stop HIV Together
Learn more about how to combat HIV stigma by visiting the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign. Access the following link to learn more: https://bit.ly/nmac_togetherENG