Being HIV positive

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UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador and Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and UNAIDS Country Director Fiji & the Pacific Renata Ram. Picture: SUPPLIED/FT FILE

A poor understanding of the disease and the social stigma related to HIV makes it difficult for those who are newly diagnosed to first accept their HIV positive status.

These were the sentiments shared by UNAIDS Pacific Office country director, Renata Ram.

With World AIDS Day being commemorated today, Ms Ram said HIV/AIDS had always been seen as a death sentence but technology and science had allowed people living with HIV to live a long, healthy life, just as any other chronic disease.

“This is through antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, when taken correctly can suppress the virus, when a person reaches viral suppression then the virus is no longer detected in the blood,” she said.

“We call this U=U, undetectable is equal to untransmissable, meaning a person can no longer infect other persons. This does not cure a person living with HIV, but keeps them healthy and unable to pass on the virus.”

Ms Ram said in Fiji, under HIV Law 2011, networks of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) were given free ARV for life to ensure social protection and protection against discrimination in the workplace.

“These protective laws ensure PLHIV are given free treatment for life and have legal protection against discrimination, especially on the grounds of employment.”

She added there was still a critical need for increased funding for AIDS response, to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on people’s lives and to end stigma and discrimination and to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV.

She also highlighted that zero discrimination towards HIV was one of the core driving goals of UNAIDS.

“For many reasons, as it reduces people’s access to testing, treatment and care.”

Ms Ram said it was discrimination towards HIV that drove the stigma, which was fuelled by a lack of understanding on the disease as well as misconception on how the HIV spread.

“On our work on HIV related stigma, it is the general public as well as health workers who we empower with correct information. “It is only then we can help PLHIV overcome isolation and burden brought on by others.”

This year’s theme for World Aids Day is Global solidarity, shared responsibility.

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