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Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, visits Brighton
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, visits Brighton
Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, visited Brighton last month as part of her UK visit to observe how the city has led the way in HIV prevention and treatment. Winnie is a global leader in the United Nations’ efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and is a passionate and longstanding champion of social justice and gender equality.
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In 2016, Brighton became the first city in the UK to join the Fast-Track Cities initiative, a group of cities from across the world that have pledged to work towards zero new HIV infections.
The city has earned its reputation of being a world leader in HIV prevention and treatment by exceeding the initiative’s target of 90-90-90. Ninty-three per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 99% of those are on treatment and 98% of those on treatment are undetectable which means levels of virus in the blood are so low that they can’t pass on HIV.
During the visit, Winnie observed Jubilee Library’s HIV test vending machines. Installed by the Martin Fisher Foundation in 2017, these machines are a world-first and distribute free self-tests which give a result in just a few minutes. They have been instrumental in Brighton in improving diagnosis rates and destigmatising testing.
During her visit, Winnie met with many local community organisations and other stakeholders involved in HIV prevention and care in Brighton, as well as local MPs and the leader of Brighton & Hove City Council to discuss the city’s successful approach to HIV prevention and treatment.
Lunch Positive, which offers a welcoming, supportive and peer-led HIV community space, hosted a community lunch and HIV sector gathering last month for Winnie and guests, put together by volunteers, connecting people with HIV, its members and leaders from HIV organisations, including Frontline AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation and Terrence Higgins Trust (THT).
Winnie said: “What can I say! Thank you Lunch Positive; thank you Gary and the volunteers you work with. You have built and you sustain a community of people living with HIV, fighting stigma, partnering with researchers and the council to spur prevention, testing and treatment innovations that work for people. Awesome!”
The final stop of the visit was Tay, Brighton’s AIDS Memorial in New Steine Gardens, for a moment of reflection and remembrance. Created by Romany Mark Bruce, the sculpture was inspired by Paul Tay, Romany’s friend and soulmate who died from AIDS- related illnesses in 1992. Winnie had the opportunity to meet the artist and discuss the inspiration behind the piece.
Winnie added: “Brighton has made significant progress in the fight against HIV due to their innovative approach. The HIV test vending machines have been fundamental in allowing individuals to take control of their sexual health and the local organisations there are the life force of people living with HIV. The work they have done over the past 40 years to build a community is invaluable.
Marc Tweed, centre manager at THT Brighton, said: “Although we’re doing incredibly well here in Brighton, we have our sights set on achieving zero new cases by 2030 and must not be complacent.
“In order to achieve this goal, we need to see more funding for opt-out HIV testing in A&E and primary care and make every blood test count. By normalising HIV testing in these settings, we can reach the undiagnosed.
“HIV stigma and discrimination also remain a barrier to progress. In Brighton, our local organisations are working collaboratively towards a stigma-free city, however, we need to see a robust and fullyfunded HIV action plan from the UK government to ensure we can continue working to smash stigma and change perceptions of people living with HIV.”
For more info on Lunch Positive, visit: www.lunchpositive.org
For more info on THT, visit: www.tht.org.uk
