World AIDS Day is coming up on Sunday, December 1 and staff at Huron Perth Public Health are reminding the public of how far we've come when it comes to the disease.
Julie Bergman, Public Health Nurse at HPPH, says the annual day is a time to reflect on all the progress made in terms of treating HIV, the infection that causes AIDS.
"We've come so far. not only in treatment, but also in the stigma that goes along with HIV. It's a time for us to remember the 80's and 90's when the AIDS crisis first hit and the discrimination that gay men endured because of it," Bergman said.
Bergman says treatments for HIV have advanced so far, and two significant things have happened over the last couple decades that have been very impactful. The first is that because of modern treatments, those who contract HIV, the infection that causes AIDS, have much better outcomes.
"It is rare that a person on treatment would ever progress to AIDS. Most people who become infected with HIV, with adherence to the treatment, live a long life free of AIDS," Bergman shared.
Additionally, modern treatments have also made HIV essentially undetectable in those who have the virus.
"So that means that there's not enough of the virus in their body that they could transmit it. So it's a concept known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). So this means that people who have HIV and are adhering to the treatment, can't transmit it to another person," said Bergman.
Everyone is encouraged to wear a red scarf on December 1 to mark World AIDS day.
“We want to remind the community that HIV can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation,” Bergman pointed out. “HIV testing is available for free at HPPH sexual health clinics.”
To learn more about services offered or to make an appointment, visit hpph.ca/sexualhealth.
The Stratford Red Scarf Project installation for AIDS Awareness Week will take place Sunday, December 1 in downtown Stratford. Red scarves, knitted and donated by local knitters, will be placed on parking meters and benches around the downtown core and Ontario Street. In addition, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) has organized events as a part of their annual Red Scarf Movement.
Events include a concert on Saturday, November 30 at Centennial Hall in London, and a vigil on Sunday at Innovation Works in London, with a live-stream option.
For more information on the Red Scarf Movement and to get involved, visit www.redscarf.ca.