Fri 1 Dec. 2023
World Aids Day
Ahead of World AIDS Day on 1st December 2023, we caught up with Adrian Golifer, joint Diversity Coordinator, Insurance Institute of Manchester, to talk about:
- the day’s significance;
- it’s history;
- and the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS.
World AIDS Day, first observed in 1988, stands as a powerful reminder of the ongoing battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It serves as a day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives to the disease and a beacon of hope for those living with HIV. The day also emphasises the need for continued education, awareness, and destigmatisation of HIV/AIDS.
The history of HIV/AIDS is marked by tragedy and resilience. Identified in the early 1980s, the virus rapidly became a global pandemic, affecting millions worldwide. In the early years, HIV/AIDS was often met with widespread stigma and misinformation, making the fight against it challenging.
I was a teenager at the time, but still recall the way the UK government handled the public information campaign leading to widespread fear within the UK population, and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Ironically, more straight than gay people are now being diagnosed with HIV for the first time in a decade, according to the UK Health Security Agency https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hiv-annual-data-tables
Thankfully, over the decades, significant progress has been made in understanding, treating, and preventing the virus. Advancements in medical science have transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis to a manageable chronic condition. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been a game-changer, allowing those with the virus to lead long, healthy lives. With this treatment, which works by reducing the amount of virus in the blood to undetectable levels, HIV cannot be passed on, which is often a common misconception. This message is supported by the U=U campaign (Undetectable = Untransmittable) https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(17)30183-2/fulltext
Despite these advancements, the battle is far from over. According to UNAIDS https://www.unaids.org/en/whoweare/about there were approximately 38.4m people globally living with HIV in 2021, with 1.5m new infections in that year alone.
Global efforts to combat HIV/AIDS are multifaceted. They include promoting widespread testing, ensuring access to life-saving treatments, supporting HIV prevention strategies, and investing in research for a cure.
Organisations worldwide, from grassroots groups to international bodies like the World Health Organisation https://www.who.int/health-topics/hiv-aids#tab=tab_1 are working to reach the UNAIDS' ambitious 95-95-95 target: by 2030, 95% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 95% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
On World AIDS Day, it's a time for communities to come together in solidarity and action. It's a call to remember the past, acknowledge the present challenges, and recommit to a future where HIV/AIDS is no longer a global health threat.
Everyone has a role to play in this ongoing fight, from raising awareness and combating stigma to supporting those affected by HIV/AIDS in our communities. You’re encouraged to participate in World AIDS Day events, and support HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention efforts.
Acting together can bring hope and solidarity, and your collective action can really make a difference.
If you’d like to discuss any aspect of the above in confidence, or if you’d simply like more information, please get in touch via adrian.golifer@createsolutions.co.uk
What is HIV?
- HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus; the immunodeficiency is the weakening of the immune system by the virus.
- If untreated it can lead to late-stage HIV or AIDS, the name for a collection of illnesses caused by the virus.
- Medication helping those with HIV to live long, healthy lives has been available for decades.
- Modern medication reduces the viral load to undetectable levels, meaning someone can't pass on HIV and their health is protected.
Sources: Terrence Higgins Trust & NHS