Enugu-born Kevin Abonyi got the shock of his life when a medical laboratory test he underwent in preparation to take a wife turned out positive. Mr. Abonyi had walked into a medical laboratory centre in Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State to find out his blood group, genotype and HIV status, having resolved to settle down as a married man.
A Mass communication graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mr. Abonyi could not understand what the lab attendant was talking about.
He literally and technically became deaf. He saw his world caving in but as a devout catholic with a strong faith in God, and knowing that he had lived a morally-upright life all his youthful age, he immediately regained his consciousness, remained calm, cool and collected, courageously approached his would-be wife and broke the sad news to her.
He also assured the girl that he did not believe the result and promised to conduct further tests in Lagos for a proper diagnosis.
However, after he visited a laboratory in Lagos, his HIV turned out negative. This sharply contradicted the earlier result and at the same time rekindled his hope of getting married to the woman of his choice.
Satisfied and highly elated at the turn of events, he travelled back to his village to break the good news to the lady, who also tumbled with joy. Together, they visited Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, as well as the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, for further medical examinations and the result was the same – HIV negative.
Today, Mr Abonyi and the woman live together as husband and wife, and the marriage has produced four lovely children, two boys and two girls.
Narrating how she felt when she got the first news about her husband’s HIV status, his wife said: “When he told me that the laboratory test result from Obollo-Afor said he was HIV positive, I was devastated.
“Although he remained calm, promising to visit a better facility in Lagos, I was confused