Irish AIDS Day 2021: Forty Years On
Irish AIDS Day 2021: Forty Years On
In June 1981, five men in Los Angeles were diagnosed with a rare lung infection. That same month, multiple cases of a rare, aggressive cancer were reported in New York and California. This marked the first official clinical account of what would later be called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). (Source) (Source)
From that point on, the number of similar reported cases increased rapidly. We now know that people’s immune systems were being weakened by a virus called HIV – the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. When left untreated, HIV leads to AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, which is an umbrella term for the illnesses which a person acquires due to the virus’s weakening of the immune system. By the end of 1985, the United Nations declared that every region in the world had reports of at least one case of HIV. (Source)
Source: Business Insider
Early in the crisis, the false idea that it only affected gay men became entrenched, garnering the title ‘Gay Men’s Pneumonia’ and ‘Gay Cancer’. (Source) Myths about how HIV is transmitted were also common at the time. A photo of Princess Diana shaking the hand of a patient at the UK’s first HIV ward in 1987 quickly became famous. It represented the denouncement of fear around HIV transmission. (Source)
The idea that HIV could be passed on via ‘casual contact, food, water, air, or environmental surfaces’ was disproven in 1983, (Source) but despite numerous actions like Diana’s since then, this myth has not been completely eradicated. In a YouGov survey of over 2,000 people in Britain, 48% of participants said they would feel uncomfortable kissing someone with HIV, and 38% said they would feel uncomfortable going on a date with someone with HIV. (Source)
Stigma
‘They say it arrived from outer space on a comet.’
‘They say that God created it to strike us dead.’
‘They say it was created in a laboratory to kill us.’
‘They say we got it from the jungle.’
‘It’s a death sentence.’
Source: The Guardian
These lines from Channel 4’s It’s a Sin echo the myths that were widely believed at the time. The programme appeared on our screens earlier this year, recounting the period from 1981-1991, during which the HIV and AIDs crisis took a toll on communities globally. It’s a Sin depicts the shame and discrimination inflicted upon those who did not fit heteronormative standards, by telling the story of a group of young friends in London in the 1980s.
The show was enlightening on two fronts: both for its depiction of the epidemic, and for highlighting the prevailing stigma by invoking viewers’ reactions. A particularly pertinent scene sees Jill, a heterosexual woman, being refused information about HIV by her doctor as ‘it doesn’t affect’ her. This illustrated the sexual morality that was associated with HIV and AIDS, the misinformed assumptions made, and the ostracisation of those impacted. The commonly held belief that only men can get HIV or AIDS persists, reflected by the 2,150% increase in Google searches for “can women get AIDs”, as a result of the show. Given that more than half of people living with HIV globally are girls and women, the perception that only men can get HIV demonstrates society’s lack of awareness (Source).
Accounts of the discrimination faced during the crisis show the stark reality of millions of people, including children and teenagers. In the case of the three Ray brothers in Florida, their HIV-positive status was used as a reason to prevent them from attending their elementary school. (Source)
It’s important to note that we have made significant strides in reducing the misinformation and stigma associated with HIV. We now have numerous resources available that provide accurate information about living with HIV, treatment, and where to go for support. In Ireland specifically, organisations such as the Sexual Health Centre, GOSHH, and Sexual Health West provide clear and accurate support and information about HIV such as the ‘U equals U’ message, or ‘Undetectable equals Untransmittable’ i.e. if you have HIV, and you are on effective treatment and maintain an undetectable viral load, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner. Health professionals are better equipped and informed so that they can provide evidence-based, non-discriminatory care. There are also considerable initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of using the right language when speaking about HIV. (Source) However, misinformation is still deeply entrenched, and it contributes to a stigma that has a significant impact on people, leading to their reluctance to get tested, seek treatment, or speak about living with HIV.
Source: HIV Ireland
HIV Treatment and Testing
During the crisis, governments were heavily criticised for their lack of research into HIV and the inadequate efforts to develop treatment. Now, medical research means that we have a better understanding of HIV and have access to preventative treatments such as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). People with a positive HIV status can access treatment so that they can lead full, healthy lives, with the same life expectancy as anyone else. Treatment eliminates the advancement and transmission of HIV, and prevents any illnesses related to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
PrEP is taken before and after sex by people who are HIV negative, to prevent HIV. When taken correctly, PrEP has been found to be more than 95% effective. PrEP is available through the HSE, free of charge to those who are considered to be at substantial risk of contracting HIV through sex. PrEP is available in some public sexual health services, some general practices (GP) and private providers. For further information on where PrEP is available, see www.sexualwellbeing.ie.
PEP is a course of antiretroviral medication which can prevent HIV transmission after a potential exposure to HIV. PEP needs to be started within 72 hours of a potential exposure to HIV (for example, during sex or through sharing needles and works to prepare drugs, or as a result of sexual assault). PEP is free and is available in most STI/GUM clinics and Hospital Emergency departments. Click here to view or download a list of locations where PEP is available in Ireland.
The Sexual Health Centre provides free rapid HIV testing, with results available in one minute. We also offer free, practical HIV support sessions with our HIV Support Worker, Phil Corcoran, and professional counselling for people living with HIV and their loved ones. Phil can be reached via our regular contact details or our WhatsApp service (086 0286 227), where he is available by phone call or text. Also, check out our blog on maintaining positive sexual health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes information about the various supports that are available in relation to HIV.
