
Audio By Carbonatix
The world’s oldest-living person with HIV is celebrating his 100th birthday — stunning doctors who call him an “icon of hope” for people living with the disease, according to a new report.
“I feel happy,” the man, who only wanted to be known as Miguel, told CTV News. “I’ve spent these years without hardship and pain.”
Miguel was first diagnosed with the disease 16 years ago in a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, but is a picture of perfect health because of antiretroviral medication, his doctors said.
“If people take the medication, they can live as other people,” Dr. Ines Pintassilgo said. “That’s the main conclusion, I think.”
“I think that’s what he teaches us, that you can live with HIV as long as you have all the other background and living lifestyle and comorbidities [chronic diseases] under control,” Pintassilgo added.
Miguel never smoked and lived a very active life — but attributes his longevity to a far more simple remedy.
“The reason why I have reached such a long age is because every day when I go to bed I make a cup of lemon tea,” he explained. “The good slice of lemon with the rind and the pulp and everything.”
Life expectancy for people living with HIV has increased significantly with the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in the 1990s.
Today, a 20-year-old HIV-positive person taking medication has a life expectancy of 78 years — the life expectancy of the average US male, according to a study published in Lancet HIV in 2017.
Miguel did not want his full identity to be revealed and denied he was a “special case.”Nisse, Jake
The Portuguese medical miracle is the subject of an upcoming case study where he is dubbed “The Lisbon Patient.”
Miguel denied he was a “special case,” but experts said his story could be life-changing for the 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, according to the UN.
“Of course 100 years is something special!” HIV specialist Dr. Giovanni Guaraldi told CTV News from Modena, Italy. “This guy (is) like an icon of hope for people living with HIV.”
“You still can experience healthy ageing,” he said.
Latest Stories
-
Netherlands Fire Chief in Ghana to support fire safety reforms and market fire prevention efforts
2 hours -
Mason goes on remand for stealing
2 hours -
Gov’t cuts fuel taxes, deploys buses to curb impact of rising fuel prices
3 hours -
Interior Minister calls for intelligence-driven strategy as Ghana strengthens counter-terrorism efforts
3 hours -
Adenta Circuit Court remands Pastor William Gyimah over viral threats against Vice President
4 hours -
“We’ve implemented changes to prevent a repeat of the AFCON final” – CAF President Motsepe
4 hours -
Gov’t orders deployment of Metro Mass buses to cushion commuters amid fuel price hike
5 hours -
Key Indian state polls begin in test for Modi’s party
5 hours -
Playback: Gomoa Easter Carnival in photos
5 hours -
Gov’t orders removal of fuel taxes to ease pump price hikes
5 hours -
“Whatever the decision of CAS, we will respect it” – CAF President Motsepe after AFCON final meetings in Morocco
5 hours -
Emma Ankrah: When waiting becomes part of treatment – Reflections on hospital care
5 hours -
Ghana urges travellers to prepare for new EU border system roll-out
5 hours -
Mahama enforces fuel coupon ban for ministers as cabinet moves to slash fuel taxes
5 hours -
Task force probes strange fish deaths in Tema
5 hours