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HIV+Stigma

I call on politicians around the world to speak out against discrimination and protect the rights of people living with and affected by HIV, for schools to teach respect, for religious leaders to preach tolerance, and for the media to condemn prejudice in all its forms.

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General 03.08.2008

The United Nations has committed itself to making the treatment, care and support of people living with HIV ` universally accessible by 2010. The majority of people living in developing countries remain unaware of their HIV status, and those that do often fail to access treatment, even when it is free. For millions of people, fear of HIV forces them into denial and secrecy – such is the stigma that plagues testing and treatment.

I call on politicians around the world to speak out against discrimination and protect the rights of people living with and affected by HIV, for schools to teach respect, for religious leaders to preach tolerance, and for the media to condemn prejudice in all its forms.

Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General 03.08.2008

The United Nations has committed itself to making the treatment, care and support of people living with HIV ` universally accessible by 2010. The majority of people living in developing countries remain unaware of their HIV status, and those that do often fail to access treatment, even when it is free. For millions of people, fear of HIV forces them into denial and secrecy – such is the stigma that plagues testing and treatment.

HIV IN THE UK 83,000 people are living with HIV 21,170 people (27%) are undiagnosed

7,298 new diagnoses 4,614 men diagnosed 4,220 acquired heterosexually 170 through drug abuse

2,684 women diagnosed 2,760 acquired homosexually 110 through maternal transmission

Based on 2008 statistics

WHAT IS HIV?

HIV or human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections.

Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unsafe sex, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (vertical transmission). Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world.

HIV infection in humans is considered pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). From its discovery in 1981 to 2006, AIDS killed more than 25 million people. HIV infects about 0.6% of the world’s population. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4–3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. A third of these deaths are occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and increasing poverty. According to current estimates, HIV is set to infect 90 million people in Africa, resulting in a minimum estimate of 18 million orphans.

Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries.

Without therapy, someone who has AIDS typically dies within 12 MONTHS. HIV infects primarily vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells.

HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms: First, direct viral killing of infected cells; second, increased rates of apoptosis in infected cells; and third, killing of infected CD4+ T cells by cytotoxic that recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunity is lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

Most people infected with HIV eventually develop AIDS. These individuals mostly die from opportunistic infections or malignancies associated with the progressive failure of the immune system. HIV progresses to AIDS at a variable rate affected by viral, host, and environmental factors; HIV-specific treatment delays this process. Most will progress to AIDS within 10 years of HIV infection: some will have progressed much sooner, and some will take much longer.

Treatment with antiretrovirals increases the life expectancy of people infected with HIV. Even after HIV has progressed to diagnosable AIDS, the average survival time with antiretroviral therapy was estimated to be more than 5 years as of 2005.

PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV

730,000 adults and 27,000 adults and 0.3% adult prevale 8,000 adult and ch 1.2 million adults and children living with HIV 54,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV 0.6% adult prevalence 23,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

230,000 adults and children living with HIV 20,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV 1.1% adult prevalence 14,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

1.7 million adults and children living with HIV 110,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV 0.5% adult prevalence 63,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

22 million adults and children living with HIV 1.9 million adults and children newly infected 5 % adult prevalence 1.5 million adult and child deaths due to AIDS

33.0 million people worldwide 30.8 million adults 15.5 million women 2.0 million children under 15

d children living with HIV children newly infected with HIV ence hild deaths due to AIDS

1.5 million adults and children living with HIV 110,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV 0.8% adult prevalence 58,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

740,000 adults and children living with HIV 51,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV 0.1% adult prevalence 40,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

380,000 adults and children living with HIV 40,000 adults and children newly infected 0.3% adult prevalence 27,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

4.2 million adults and children living with HIV 330,000 million adults and children newly infected with HIV 0.3% adult prevalence 340,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

d with HIV

S

74,000 adults and children living with HIV 13,000 adults and children newly infected with HIV 0.4% adult prevalence 1,000 adult and child deaths due to AIDS

LIVING WITH HIV?

What’s it like living with HIV? If people with HIV are diagnosed early and respond to treatment they can be healthy, work and have relationships like anyone else and have a long life expectancy.

Coming to terms with a HIV diagnosis and getting used to treatment can be very difficult however, and people living with HIV will often need support from healthcare providers, friends and family, employers and support organisations.

Read real stories from people living with HIV talking about their experiences.

Why do people find it hard to tell others they’re HIV positive?

People living with HIV may find it hard to tell others about their condition as they worry that people will reject them, or they will experience prejudice from friends, family and colleagues. People living with HIV can also experience discrimination in their workplace, in healthcare settings (for example GPs and dentists), from members of their local community and through the media.

HIV prejudice is often the result of ignorance about how HIV is passed on and unfounded fear of becoming infected.

Encouraging those around us to talk about HIV and find out the facts can help overcome this.

1980’s

1990

Terry Higgins is one of the first people in the UK to die with AIDS. The Terrence Higgins Trust is founded shortly afterwards.

Scottish Health Monitor is set up to co-ordinate Scotland's response to AIDS.

A world summit on AIDS is held in Lo resulting in the London Declaration o AIDS Prevention. London Lighthouse opened by HRH Princess Margaret.

The number of people diagnosed with AIDS in the UK exceeds 100. Gay men are asked to stop donating blood.

Freddie Mercury, the lead rock group Queen confirm that he has AIDS. He dies following day. Diana, Prin becomes patron of NAT.

HIV is recognised by the scientific community as the virus that causes AIDS. The Government launches its Don't aid AIDS campaign.

Holly John of pop gro announce

1982 1983 1984 1986 1988 1991 1

0’s

ondon, on e is

2000’s The Government announces plans to offer all pregnant women an HIV test as part of routine screening.

The number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals exceeds those among gay and bisexual men for the first time.

d singer of ms rumours s the ncess of Wales

Chris Smith MP announces that he is HIV-positive. At a third hearing, a man is found guilty of reckless HIV transmission and given a prison sentence. Royal Assent is given to the Disability Discrimination Act, giving legal protection to people living with HIV from discrimination.

The first trial is held for the reckless transmission of HIV.

The UK Coalition of People Living with HIV (UKC) is launched.

Body Positive London closes and London Lighthouse merges nson, the former lead singer with THT, reflecting a big shift in oup Frankie Goes to Hollywood, the demand for support services e that he is HIV positive. among people living with HIV.

1993 1993 1999 2000 2001 2005

TRANSMISSION How is HIV passed on?

HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk. The most common ways HIV is passed on are: • Sex without a condom with someone living with HIV • Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment • From an HIV-positive mother (to her child) during pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding

Can you get HIV from kissing?

No. HIV cannot be passed on through: • Kissing or touching • Spitting, coughing or sneezing • Toilet seats, swimming pools, or shared facilities or utensils

PREVENTION Could I get HIV?

How can I protect myself?

If you are sexually active or share needles you could be at risk from getting HIV. Although anyone can become infected, some communities in the UK have higher rates of infection, such as gay and bisexual men and Black African men and women.

Always use a condom when having vaginal or anal sex. You also may want to use a condom or dental dam during oral sex although the risk of transmission of HIV is much lower. Always use a condom that carries the European CE safety mark.

Never share needles, syringes or any other injecting equipment.

PEOPLE ACCESSING HIV CARE

61,123 people diagnosed in the UK are accessing care.

44% of people accessing HIV care in 2009 were resident in London.

WORLD AIDS DAY Twenty-two years ago, a summit of health ministers realised that a united global effort was required to halt the spread of HIV. As a result, World AIDS Day emerged as the first international health day in December 1988.

Each year the campaign is an opportunity for organisations throughout the world to highlight the HIV pandemic in order to raise awareness and bring about change.

In the UK, the theme of World AIDS Day 2008 is Respect & Protect.

The aim of World AIDS Day is to bring to people’s attention the worldwide challenges and consequences of the epidemic and ultimately, preventing the spread of HIV and improving the lives of people living with the virus.

The UK theme is inspired by the UNAIDS and World AIDS Campaign ongoing international theme of Leadership. The international theme is developed as an overall theme which each country is encouraged to adapt to suit more specific issues around the epidemic in their region.

For more information about the international theme for World AIDS Day visit the World AIDS Campaign website.

WORLD AIDS DAY Twenty-two years ago, a summit of health ministers realised that a united global effort was required to halt the spread of HIV. As a result, World AIDS Day emerged as the first international health day in December 1988.

Each year the campaign is an opportunity for organisations throughout the world to highlight the HIV pandemic in order to raise awareness and bring about change.

In the UK, the theme of World AIDS Day 2008 is Respect & Protect.

The aim of World AIDS Day is to bring to people’s attention the worldwide challenges and consequences of the epidemic and ultimately, preventing the spread of HIV and improving the lives of people living with the virus.

The UK theme is inspired by the UNAIDS and World AIDS Campaign ongoing international theme of Leadership. The international theme is developed as an overall theme which each country is encouraged to adapt to suit more specific issues around the epidemic in their region.

For more information about the international theme for World AIDS Day visit the World AIDS Campaign website.

In the time it has taken you to read through this booklet at least

25 PEOPLE

will have been diagnosed with HIV.

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