{
  "id": 17499570,
  "title": "My mum, church rejected me over HIV status — Advocate, Ekezie",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/my-mum-church-rejected-me-over-hiv-status-advocate-ekezie-17499570",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-01T00:06:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/my-mum-church-rejected-me-over-hiv-status-advocate-ekezie/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chika Ekezie, a resident of Imo State, learned about his HIV status in November 2024 after years of ignoring recurring health issues. He became an advocate for people living with HIV after experiencing workplace and family rejection due to his condition. Chika's symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, pneumonia, and weight loss, were dismissed as common illnesses, leading him to self-medicate rather than seek medical attention. He was careless about his health but reckless when it came to sexual partners. After receiving his HIV diagnosis, Chika faced stigma at work and within his family, including being laid off from his job and being ostracized by the church. Despite the challenges, he credits his faith for giving him the courage to share his story publicly on social media, hoping to inspire others facing similar situations.",
  "summary": "An HIV advocate, Chika Ekezie, shares his story of being rejected by his mother, church, and employer after discovering his HIV status. Read More: https://punchng.com/my-mum-church-rejected-me-over-hiv-status-advocate-ekezie/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}