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HIV/AIDS

There are now over 60,000 people living with HIV in the UK and around half of these people are gay or bisexual men. That means that 1 in 25 gay or bisexual men have the infection, but if we’re talking about places like London or Manchester, that number rises to around one in ten.

The northwest of England is believed to have the third highest number of people living with HIV, particularly in Manchester, Blackpool and Salford with 50 HIV cases per 100,000 population.

You’d think with numbers like that, we’d all know someone who’s HIV positive, but in fact only half of us reckon we know someone. This means that either there are loads of people out there who don’t know they’re infected, or they do know but are keeping quiet about it – not surprising really when you think of the stigma and misunderstanding that still surrounds HIV.

Instead of being supported, a lot of people living with HIV can be made to feel like they should be ashamed or embarrassed, but until we stop judging and start listening we will never see the end of this infection.

One thing we all need from time to time is to talk to someone who understands how we feel. Here are some quotes from HIV +ve people that will hopefully prove inspiring.

“Being HIV was devastating for a time but it did make me re-assess my life and make me appreciate how important my health is. If HIV hadn’t made me change my behaviour, I probably wouldn’t be alive today.”

“HIV shakes your world and those around you but the world doesn’t stop just because of your diagnosis. Funnily enough HIV has made me stronger, but not in an arrogant way - it has put some perspective into my life.”

“The day you stop fighting the HIV virus is the day it has won. Life is too short to waste. Put the virus to one side and go and do something, go somewhere, focus on the good stuff in your life, expand your mind – and I don’t mean with beer or other substances!”

“With my HIV diagnosis I have become more socially aware and where I have been told from an early age “you can’t do that” now I’d just say “you bloody well watch me”. Now I see a future I have re-learnt that I have a brain and I can use it.”