World AIDS Day to spark fresh change

Since being established in 1988, World AIDS Day has been a time to reflect on the affect of HIV/AIDS, with activists working tirelessly to change perceptions and the treatment of people with the virus.

But with big funding changes in Bristol afoot, activists and charities in the city are hoping World AIDS Day can once again kickstart change.

With progress made in treating HIV, the tone of coverage has changed hugely massively since the 1980s. But many problems associated with HIV persist. Stigma, along with the dearth of support for physical and mental health conditions associated with HIV, still blight many lives.

Bristol services are under threat from the Supporting People Budget, due to be passed by the City Council at the end of this year. In the proposals, leading local HIV-support charity Brigstowe faces budget cuts of between 30 to 100 per cent.

The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) building in Bristol was closed in 2016 after a 30-year presence in Old Market. Support services remain in the city through THT partnership schemes with Brigstowe and the Unity Sexual Health service.

Tea-lights mark out a commemorative ribbon at last years World AIDS Day

A representative for ACTup Bristol, an HIV campaign charity, said: “We want to raise awareness within the community for those services and encourage people to be involved in supporting and protecting them. One of the big areas charities help with is support, advice and mentoring. There are many cities in the country that have no provision at all, and Bristol could soon be one.”

While medically, HIV is not the threat it was, socially it is still a hugely life-altering condition.

U = U is a campaign slogan launched to challenge stigma. It means ‘undetectable equals untransmittable’, but there is a lack of awareness of the meaning of ‘undetectable’. A recent breakthrough means medicines can suppress the virus, meaning there is no risk of the virus damaging the health of a HIV positive person, or being transmitted on to someone else.

Thomas, in his 50s, contracted HIV in the mid-1990s. He believes the government has a lot of blame to shoulder. The campaigns in the 1980s, he says, have made HIV so deeply ingrained, that it’s time for the Government to lead a new campaign to re-educate people. “I’m still nervous when I cut myself, even though I know there’s no risk to anyone. That’s how ingrained it is,” Thomas said.

“The stigma attached to the condition is still huge. My neighbour hasn’t spoken to me since I was open about my status. Being diagnosed is terrifying. It’s impossible to know who you can tell and as a result I have become very insular.”

Many people with HIV also report being the victims of stigma from NHS staff. Thomas is just one who has had minor surgery cancelled last minute. It’s an story heard time and again.

GPs are the only point of contact many people with HIV have. “Their usual response is to bump up your antidepressants because there aren’t better avenues for people struggling with their diagnosis to pursue,” explains Thomas.

“You’re often sent to HIV clinics instead of mainstream clinics for things as minor as flu jabs. But those clinics are already too busy and as a result you’re passed from pillar to post. What’s more, many medicines aren’t tested on HIV-positive patients, so I’ve had many problems with medicines interfering with my HIV medicine. Doctors are endlessly balancing medications, but because of my status, decisions are deferred and it can take months to receive simple treatments.”

Despite better education, HIV infection rates are increasing. “More people from the black community are contracting HIV,” the representative from ACTup explained. “The biggest growth rate of new infections is actually with the over-50s. The gay community is seeing new infections stabilise and fall. Educating people has never been more important,”  “It’s not going away. It’s not fatal anymore, but it’s still life-altering.”

With threats to remaining support services acute, Brigstowe are organising a programme of events and ACTup are organising demonstrations to refocus attention.

Brigstowe have organised a series of events. In particular, the World AIDS Day vigil will be held on College Green on Friday, December 1 at 5.30pm.

ACTup want to encourage people with HIV to help mentor those who have recently been diagnosed. They’ve also organised a petition to challenge the funding cuts.

“Brigstowe have helped me hugely,”  Thomas asserts. “They helped me find housing when I was worried about homelessness. They’ve supported me with benefit changes. Support workers still pop by to check I’m not retreating from the world. They’re invaluable.

“I’m 55. I shouldn’t be here. I’m lucky to be, and I the progress we’ve made shouldn’t be turned back. There’s still more to do.”

World AIDS Day is on December 1. For full details of local events, visit www.brigstowe.org/news-events/world-aids-day/

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