Today marks the 35th anniversary of the first World AIDS Day, which began in 1988 to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that was then sweeping across the globe.
The theme for this year’s day in Australia is inclusion, respect and equity, which acknowledges the three fundamental principles in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS.“These sort of days [like World AIDS Day] definitely help break down some of the barriers that people living with HIV continue to face by helping to educate the wider community about HIV, as well as bringing attention to community health campaigns such as Ending HIV and U=U,” says Tom Harris, who has HIV.
U=U is “undetectable equals untransmissible”, referring to the fact that people who take antiretroviral therapy for HIV daily as prescribed, and who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load, cannot sexually transmit the virus to an HIV-negative partner.
Harris told GSN that education around HIV has meant we have come a long way in protecting ourselves, but we shouldn’t forget the lessons of the AIDS crisis.
“It was a devastating time, marked by loss, stigma and activism. Learning about it fosters empathy and helps prevent history from repeating itself,” he says.
For Harris, World AIDS Day is an important time to reflect because while the devastation of the AIDS crisis may be over, HIV is still out there.
“…It’s an important time to … reflect on how fortunate I am to be living this life now and not years ago at the height of the AIDS crisis,” he says.
“I got a second chance, many didn’t. It’s humbling.”
The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation charity helps those living with HIV to not just survive but thrive. Next year will be its 40th year on its mission to help bring a sense of connection and community to people living with HIV.
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation community ambassador Steven Spencer says people still needed support. “This World AIDS Day, more than ever, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation’s clients need our support,” Spencer said.
“The cost-of-living crisis has hit our community’s most vulnerable the hardest, and every dollar you donate to BGF’s World AIDS Day appeal goes towards supporting them – people living with HIV are still here and it’s up to us to help.”
Government estimates show there were an estimated 29,460 people living with HIV in Australia in 2021, and roughly 39 million worldwide.
These numbers are trending downwards though, with new HIV diagnoses down 32 per cent over the past five years.
“The data shows that we continue to make overall progress towards our goal of ending HIV transmissions in NSW,” says ACON chief executive officer Nicolas Parkhill.
Parkhill says great strides have been made in the inner-city groups of gay and bisexual men but there were other communities, like those in western Sydney, who needed more attention.
“Ensuring these groups are receiving appropriate and tailored HIV testing, prevention and treatment messages is critical,” he said.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: eliot.hastie@gaysydneynews.com.au
