Living with HIV
meet heroes and heroines who speak openly about living with HIV.
Brief description of the campaign
Living with HIV
"Living with HIV" is a campaign that breaks stereotypes and builds bridges of understanding. Through authentic stories, photos, and videos, we show that seropositive people are part of our society, fulfilling a variety of roles - as parents, employees, friends, and partners. We want everyone to be able to see that living with HIV does not define the person or their abilities.
Join us and support the fight against prejudice. Together we can create a world where everyone feels accepted and understood, regardless of their serological status. Living with HIV is a life full of value, love, and hope.
Heroes and Heroines
HIV W LICZBACH
39 mln
people are living with HIV worldwide (2023, UNAIDS).
46%
of newly diagnosed HIV infections are among women and girls (2023, UNAIDS).
0%
of people living with HIV in Poland are comfortable with talking about their diagnosis, compared to 37-56% of people in other European countries.
31%
of people living with HIV have been diagnosed at some time with depression.
Źródło: UNAIDS
Źródło: UNAIDS
Źródło: Survey Global Positive Perspectives WAVE 2
Źródło: Global prevalence of depression in HIV/AIDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis Sepide Rezaei et al. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2019 Dec.
Five facts about HIV that you need to know:
There are only three routes of infection.
HIV can only be contracted through unprotected sexual contact; direct contact with an infected person's blood with a mucous membrane, or open wound; and the vertical route. There are no other possibilities.
Undetectable=Untransmitable.
A person with HIV who is on treatment and has an undetectable level of the virus in his/her blood is not infectious. He or she can have unprotected sex without risk of transmitting the virus, and conceive and give birth to an uninfected child.
HIV does not always mean AIDS.
HIV is a virus that, if left untreated, can lead to the AIDS stage. But not every seropositive person has AIDS. Antiretroviral treatment slows the progression of the infection, and a person can enjoy a long and happy life. When on effective therapy, the AIDS stage will not develop.
HIV affects everyone.
The virus does not recognize gender identity or sexual orientation. So it doesn't matter whether a person is heterosexual or non-heteronormative. There are only more or less risky behaviors and contact.
HIV outside the body is short-lived.
It is sensitive to disinfectants and soapy water. HIV is a human virus, so it is not transmitted by animals.
Explanation of the terms
Stigmatization
identifying a certain person as belonging to a specific group and unjustifiably attributing to him/her all the negative characteristics stereotypically associated with people belonging to that group. Example: Thinking that HIV only affects men who have sex with men.
Discrimination
a form of unjustified marginalization (social exclusion), manifested by treating a person less favorably because of some characteristic, such as living with HIV. Example: Denying a person living with HIV a medical procedure.
DO & DON'T
Treat HIV+ people like anyone else. HIV does not define them as a person.
The terms "seropositive person" and "person living with HIV" are really ok, you can use them confidently.
Model your positive behavior. Don't avoid close contact if the other person expresses a need for it. Hugging someone can work wonders.
Familiarize yourself with basic HIV knowledge and pass it on.
If a seropositive person is experiencing stigma or other difficulties, offer to help him/her find support. For example, you can give him/her the contact information for the Foundation for Social Education.
Don't use the term "infected" or "disease." Words really do matter.
Don't ask a person living with HIV about how they became infected.
Don’t tell other people about a person's diagnosis if he or she does not wish you to do so.
If you're a parent, don't restrict your children's contact with someone important to them because of HIV. After all, they won't get infected, and such a restriction can be painful for both parties.
Don't blame a person for his or her diagnosis.
SPONSOR GŁÓWNY
Kampania jest realizowana przy wsparciu finansowym Światowej Organizacji Zdrowia (WHO) Biuro Regionalne Europa
PATRONAT HONOROWY
PATRONAT
POZOSTALI SPONSORZY
PARTNERZY
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