Our Positive Voice (Grampian) Blog

Lord Provost & Colin Stewart

FTC Aberdeen & Grampian sign the updated declaration.

The Aberdeen Lord Provost Dr David Cameron and Colin Stewart, Chairman and Co-founder of Positive Voice Grampian signed the Paris Declaration that meant Cities and Municipalities Achieving Zero HIV-Related Stigma and the 95-95-95 Targets on a Trajectory towards Getting to Zero New HIV Infections and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths

Sinclair's Story

Make sure your understanding of HIV is up to date this World AIDS Day

Stigma persists around HIV because of outdated perceptions of the virus and what it means to be HIV positive today, writes Sinclair Laing. December 1 is World AIDS Day. Or World HIV Day, as we prefer. Stop: that’s not your cue to click away! It’s an important day of recognition, but it’s far from your preconceived story of doom and gloom. If I may indulge for a moment, I’ll tell you a little about me, a person living a long, healthy, fun, open, professional, loving, and very fulfilling life here in the Granite City – with HIV. Before being diagnosed a decade ago, I had those ideas of HIV misery that perpetuated. Most of us did, except the few better informed. When I was diagnosed, I went through all the emotions: swore (loudly), cried (a fair bit), feared, blamed and shamed myself. I thought I’d die young and never be loved. But,...

Prince Harry

Know your status and get an HIV test, says Prince Harry

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-60323907 Prince Harry has urged people to “know your status” and “go and get a test” for HIV. And the Duke of Sussex said he wants to continue his mum’s “unfinished” work in removing the stigma around the virus. His comments come as figures show that for the first time in 10 years, the number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals is higher than for gay and bisexual men in England. Prince Harry was speaking as part of National HIV Testing Week. On the Tackle HIV podcast he spoke with Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, who lives with HIV, about how normalising HIV testing could help achieve the goal of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030. As a result of the pandemic, there has been a 33% drop in heterosexuals getting STI tests. This is compared to a 7% decrease among gay and bisexual men. Sexual health charity...

Person holding red ribbon

Colin Stewart: I was given 3 months to live in 1996 – now I’m fighting to stop the transmission of HIV by 2030

When I was 29, back in 1996 I was diagnosed with HIV. It was a different world back then compared to what it is like now. My CD4 (white blood cell count) was down to 30 – in a healthy person it can be around 1,000. I was told I had two to three months to live. That was an awful time for me, dealing with that knowledge and being so very ill, yet not really able to tell anyone because of the stigma associated with HIV. However, more than 25 years after diagnosis, I am still here, living a full and healthy life and comfortable talking about my status. In that time, a lot of advances have been made around HIV. I used to have to take over 150 tablets per week, nowadays I only need to take one tablet a day. I, along with a couple of friends and...

Hands holding ribbons

Be part of the generation that stops the transmission of HIV in Aberdeen

In partnership with OPVG December 1, 2021, 9:00 am Stopping the transmission of HIV in Aberdeen and beyond – is it possible? The answer is yes! Here’s how the reality of living with HIV has changed and how you can help stop the transmission of HIV. Today is World Aids Day, which takes place annually on December 1. It’s a day to reflect and focus, to show support for those living with HIV and commemorate those who are no longer with us. And that makes it the perfect time to take a closer look at what it means to be HIV positive today, and how we can all help stop the transmission of HIV. What to know about HIV today With HIV tests, treatment, prevention and care we could be the generation that helps stop the transmission of HIV. But there are still a lot of myths and misinformation about what...

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