World AIDS Day: 'We're in space age times with stone age minds'

A charity is calling for better public health information about HIV, as we mark World AIDS Day. Advances in science means those with the virus can go on to live long lives, without risk of passing it on to partners.

But many people living with HIV feel that stigma and pre-conceptions dating back to the 1980s impact their lives today, and believe better education can change that.

This advert was first broadcast as part of a public health campaign in the mid 80s.

Aled Osborne from Brigstowe, which is based in Bristol, says it still shapes attitudes today, "People are isolated, people still feel like they're not part of the community, and that's because of the stigma surrounding HIV that still remains today. We're in space age times with stone age minds."

He says the reality of life for people living with HIV is very different to the way people think: "We're not going to die, we don't look like lepers, or those people you saw Diana shaking hands with. We are normal, working, community members, we are old, we are young, we are different races, we are human."

Aled hopes World AIDS Day is a chance to celebrate how far things have come since 1984, but that it's also to remember those who've died, "We need to remember those who've been lost. It's special, and it brings us altogether in a moment of reflection, and by looking back we can find out what we can do to move forward."

A new era of public health information

Find out more about Brigstowe, and how they're marking World AIDS Day by downloading this leaflet

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

One of the concerns organisations have is that many people don't know or understand the difference between HIV and AIDS.

The National AIDS Trust says HIV is a virus that 101,000 people in the UK have. Because of treatment, the vast majority do not develop AIDS (a syndrome when serious illnesses are caused by a weakened immune system).

More than 30 million people have died of an AIDS related illness since the start of the pandemic in the 1980s, but the rate has dropped by 60% globally since its peak in 2004.

Now, more than 24 million people across the world take regular retroviral medicine that allows them to live long lives, and even prevents them from passing the virus to partners.

Aled says, "The story has changed, we just need attitudes to jump on board and catch up with us."

Find out more about World AIDS Day 2020 here, which also provides links to organisations that can offer advice if you need to speak to someone about living with HIV.

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