Today is World AIDS Day, an opportunity to show support for individuals living with HIV and AIDS, and to honour those who have lost their lives as a result of HIV and AIDS-related conditions.
This year’s theme, ‘40 years of HIV – where to next?’ aims to encourage Australians to educate themselves about HIV, to reduce transmission, promote prevention strategies and support individuals living with HIV, free from stigma and discrimination.
Due to stigma, many individuals living with HIV do not discuss or share their HIV status with medical professionals the same way they would discuss other medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. By withholding their HIV status, this impacts individuals’ access to health care, and their ability to live a full and healthy life.
If the way individuals view HIV changes, this will help reduce stigma and improve health outcomes for people living with HIV.
At Monash Health, there are close to 400 patients living with HIV in our care. Many of these patients do not have a GP or have not disclosed their HIV status to their GP. These patients are between 10 to 90 years old, with 30% being female and 45% being born in Australia.
There are still many misconceptions about HIV its prevalence in our communities. The good news is we can all play our part to help.
At a national level, this includes providing education to others about how HIV is transmitted, supporting individuals to access testing, treatment and ongoing care. If treatment commences early after receiving an HIV positive result, it can lead to better health outcomes and reduce the likelihood of transmission to others.
To show your support for individuals with HIV on World AIDS Day, wear a red ribbon, the international symbol of HIV awareness and support.
For more information about HIV in Australia and events being held to commemorate World AIDS Day, please visit the World AIDS Day website.
Approved by Ian Woolley.