U=U Day

We hope you saw some of the positive messages about U=U across our social media accounts at the end of October - MASSIVE thanks to everyone who liked, tweeted, retweeted and shared them!

In 2019, it was estimated that there were 105,200 people living with HIV in the UK. 94% of these people were diagnosed, and therefore know that they have HIV. This means that around 1 in 16 people living with HIV in the UK do not know that they have the virus. 98% of people diagnosed with HIV in the UK are on treatment, and 97% of those on treatment are virally suppressed which means they can’t pass the virus on. Of all the people living with HIV in the UK, 89% are virally suppressed.

 In the UK we now have medications that can treat HIV, which allows people to live a near normal life expectancy, which is so different to the life expectancy people were told in the 80’s and early 90’s, but still today there is a lot of ignorance, stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV.

 If a person adheres to HIV medication, the virus in the blood reduces to undetectable levels. We can now say with complete confidence that people, living with HIV and on effective treatment, can no longer pass on HIV to others, even when sex is unprotected. This is called U=U which stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable.

For anyone who hasn't seen them yet, check out the fantastic videos below - some of our community talking about what U=U means to them...

Overcoming

In April we had a fantastic session at Connect Women all about overcoming.

After watching an inspiring video from Vernon Francois about how he overcame his difficulties, we reflected together on:

"What challenges have you overcome in your life
and how did you manage to overcome them?"

This led to a great discussion, with members sharing their stories and the life affirming tools that had helped us to overcome - such as being honest and sharing your pain and sadness with another, not carrying it all yourself, looking after yourself. Three of our members have shared a bit of their story below, and what they have overcome, which we hope will inspire and encourage you.

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I am a Survivor...

'After a very difficult childhood, sent away alone to Africa, losing many precious things, she faced a coma at a young age through not being allowed the use of insulin. She faced stigma in her home village, and had to be strong to hold onto who she was and what she believed was true.

She made the decision to follow her daughter to the UK again, losing much and having to start from scratch again.

Due to her diabetes she faced the awful decision to have her leg amputated. I asked her how she felt and how she managed to overcome to be the positive inspiring lady she is today. She wrote a letter to her leg and thanked it for all the joy she had running and swimming, climbing and dancing, and how very happy that made her in life. But as she faced the sad news she also thought, but I am alive I can see beautiful things, I can enjoy the sea and the waves. I cant walk but I am not blind.

We need to be strong, look at the sad painful things but be happy for all the other things we have and remember them. I have a lovely family who love and care for me and I am blessed by knowing caring people in Blue Sky Trust and Health Psychology. Say yes and keep going life is good.

Recently she has agreed to be in a commercial using her health weaknesses to try and encourage others to go for the vaccine saying it is a good thing to do. She shared with them about her HIV diagnosis and how she is coming up to having lived well with HIV for 30 years and in 2024, 50 years with diabetes and other underlying health problems.

She says, 'I am a survivor!'

Overcoming Dyslexia

I am a 69 year old woman and a member of BST. When I was growing up in the sixties and going to school, I did not achieve much and did not pass my 11 plus exam as it was in those days. So I found out later in life I had dyslexia as it wasn't recognised then. But I have grown into a very confident person as I realised it was nothing to do with my intelligence. My smart phone has helped a lot as it helps with my spelling. I am an overcomer.

Overcoming

When I was diagnosed with HIV 14 years ago, my world fell apart. It was a difficult time having just lost my husband and then this new diagnosis. I was however not giving up as I had my children to take care of and I knew that with medication I could live a healthy life. I had a positive attitude and was determined to live a good and fulfilled life. Since then I have achieved a lot, even far more than I had done prior to being diagnosed.