About HIV
HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a global pandemic which causes AIDS. It attacks the human immune system and renders it vulnerable to and totally ineffective against infection leading to death from opportunistic infections and cancers.
The HIV virus lives in the bloodstream of infected people and is spread through sexual contact. People with the virus may suffer no symptoms for some time making it incredibly dangerous as infected people can spread the virus unknowingly. It is estimated that there are around 20'000 people in the UK who are HIV+ but are yet to be diagnosed.
The HIV pandemic started in the early 1980's and spread rapidly across the globe unhindered without any effective drugs. To date, it is estimated by the World Heath Organisation that over 36'000'000 have died due to HIV related illness.
Since the 1980's drugs have been developed which can slow the progress of HIV which means that today, if diagnosed and treated early, sufferers may now lead healthy lives, with similar life expectancies to everyone else.
HIV sufferers face stigma and discrimination which is driven by ignorance due to a lack of education, awareness and visibility and this project hopes to help educate and eradicate stigma.
Get involved
If you would like to be a part of the project and have been effected by HIV we want to hear from you! The more people who are involved, the more powerful the message will be.
For an informal confidential chat and to find out more, please call Jon at Body Positive Dorset on 01202 297386, or send us a message via the form on the contact page by clicking here.
