Clichés and stigma around HIV

Of course. When people finds out you have HIV they think you are like a lepros and that even with a look you can give them aids. Or they think you are like super promiscuous or gay... I think people is really badly informed.

The UNAIDs organisation reports that empowering people already living with HIV will help end the epidemic. Removing the stigma and fear around HIV makes it easier for people to get tested and for HIV-positive individuals to get and stay on treatment, which in turn makes it harder for the disease to spread. You can read the article here. 

Have you experience stigma or noticed others stigmatising HIV-positive individuals? What do you think can be done to reduce fear and increase awareness around HIV: you can't HIV through casual contact (sharing a glass, shaking hands, etc), an HIV-positive person on treatment and "undetectable" cannot spread the disease, etc?

I've definitely experienced stigma. People generally tend to assume that you're "dirty" or you're "tarty" and I think they get it from the media's and film's representation of AIDs through the years. Or people think that they can "catch" it from touching a toilet or a doorknob or sharing a drink. People just don't know and there's not enough education.

Hello all,

How are you today? 

Have you experienced any stigma around HIV/? What do you do to overcome it? Do you feel like the general public is educated enough on HIV/AIDS? What do you think could be done better?
@JUDE8962‍ @Roland‍ @tez694‍ @simon2‍ @Gwenrose‍ @clsport‍ @tuffmello‍ @Rupert09‍ @Dcoles‍ @anthony125‍ @JoeySteel‍ @MonicaM‍ @Dunx678‍ @crisp!‍ @paul0001‍ @leonardo79‍ @veritee‍ @Micant1812‍ @ukmarti‍ 

Please feel free to join in the conversation, this space is for you to share your thoughts and experiences!

Take care,
Courtney

@Courtney_J As someone with a partner with HIV, I know for sure that I am not educated enough. I don't know a thing about it and it's a shame. I just want to understand how I can support the person I love. We never talked about it in school. Or at least I can't remember it.

@Lovely It's great that you're aware of it and you're open to learning more. So many people I've dealt with are just so close minded. Hopefully with time there'll be more people out there who are open to learning.

I've definitely been the victim of prejudice. And I even believed in some of the myths myself. I assumed when I got my HIV diagnosis that I automatically had AIDS and that I only had a bit of time left to live! HIV is NOT a death sentence!

Hello everyone,

How are you today?

Coping with HIV can be challenging, especially when others misunderstand the disease, making life even more difficult. What clichés and stigmas about HIV annoy you?

@Claudio @Chrisy @Jonahkibet @beeHIVe @Lovely @JUDE8962 @jeffyes @Roland @Jeanstrumble @simon2 @Gwenrose @Nickhenshaw @Dcoles @anthony125 @littlegrace @crwexford @JoeySteel @Hugo2016 @MonicaM @Winfred @ThomasMcGowan @paul0001 @leonardo79 @veritee @Jasmine333 @aminraji25 @Tindo63 @katelouise @carllesh @jaybaby0_0 @G-boy87 @janarr

Don’t hesitate to share your questions/thoughts/advice with us here! 

Take care,

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼