A Terrence Higgins Trust survey of 2022 shows that 74% of people living with HIV in the UK have experienced stigma or discrimination due to their health status, even from their friends, family and partners. The survey also shows that HIV stigma is often the reason people don’t test to find out their status and accessing effective and timely treatment.
The UK’s national HIV action plan sets out to eliminate HIV transmission, HIV stigma and HIV deaths by 2030., This World AIDS Day, London’s focus is on ending HIV stigma. Fast Track Cities London, alongside the National AIDS Trust, NAM AIDSmap, Positively UK and the Terrence Higgins Trust, is launching the groundbreaking ‘HIV Confident’ Charter Mark and HIV Ambassadors Programme on December 1. This charter aims to combat stigma through education, starting with frontline public services,
Global movement
World AIDS Day exists to shine a light on the real experiences of people living with HIV today, while celebrating the strength, resilience and diversity of the communities most affected. It is a moment to inspire the leadership needed to create a future where HIV doesn’t stand in the way of anyone’s life. Since 1988, communities have stood together on World AIDS Day to show strength and solidarity against HIV stigma and to remember lives lost.
Sexual Health and HIV: PrEP Awareness & Worlds Aids Day
80% of people in London don’t know that you can’t pass HIV on when on effective treatment. This is also known as Undetectable=Untransmittable. The Do It London campaign promotes four sure ways to prevent HIV, including being Undetectable and PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) a powerful method that can save lives.
HIV support service in Lambeth: Bridges
80% of Londoners don’t know that effective HIV treatment means infection can’t be passed on
We know that people living with HIV need more than just medical care. Lambeth commissions a care and support service for people living with HIV from Bridges. This partnership provides the following services for people living with HIV:
- Advice and Advocacy
- Family support
- Counselling
- Peer Support
Find out more about support from Bridges.
Online sexual health services
Sexual Health London (SHL) is an online service that provides free and easy access to sexual health self-testing kits for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You can also order routine and emergency contraception via SHL. Visit the SHL website.
Why does this matter to Lambeth?
Lambeth Together’s Sexual health Programme seeks to improve sexual and reproductive health in Lambeth and to help people with a sexually transmitted infection to get the right support at the right time. We aim to reduce the number of sexually transmitted infections and to achieve zero HIV-related stigma, zero HIV transmissions and zero HIV-related deaths.
More information
For more information, visit Do It London or email sexualhealth@lambeth.gov.uk
