The Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru team were out in force at the Fast Track Cymru conference in Wrexham last week. The day explored the latest data on HIV testing, transmission and care and included insight from partners from all over Wales.
At the Racecourse in North Wales, it was the lived experience session that stood out from all the rest.
One of the speakers was Callum Lea, who was diagnosed with HIV while at university and has made Cardiff his chosen home. Callum is a Terrence Higgins Trust Positive Voices speaker, going into schools, community groups, care homes and corporates to tell his HIV story and answer questions from his given audience. He often brings his assembled crowd to tears with sadness and a lot of laughter.
Callum talks about watching the ‘Stigma is more harmful than HIV’ TV advert that was developed in partnership by Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland and the Scottish Government. He said:
‘Seeing the experiences of the four people in the advert spoke to me. In just 90 seconds you had a window into what many people living with HIV go through – a family member in fear, a health care professional treating you like an infection risk or rejection on a dating app. It was important to hold a mirror up to society, show them what happens but not make them the bad guy – take them on a journey and open their eyes to HIV stigma. We need something similar in Wales or UK-wide.’
He went on to talk about the importance of services for people living with HIV in Wales, of which there are only the NHS and Terrence Higgins Trust.
‘An HIV diagnosis can be the start of a very lonely journey but it doesn’t have to be that way. Terrence Higgins Trust services – their anti-stigma workshops and Positive Voices training – have been a game changer for me. It is time the Welsh Government funded the Peer Support capacity they promised in the HIV Action Plan.’
Another panellist, Richard who works in a local authority and has been living with HIV for 15 years, made as passionate plea for listening to those living with HIV.
‘It is important that we mainstream the conversation about HIV, allow people who don’t talk about it as much as we to do to learn that so much as changed – from the ease of testing to the effectiveness of treatment – to ask question about what they don’t know and hear our lived experience. Normalising HIV is good for those living with HIV but also empowers those who need access to HIV prevention whether that be condoms or PrEP. Together we can make a difference and turn the dial on HIV stigma.’
Ruth Burns, Head of HIV Support Services at Terrence Higgins Trust said about the conference:
‘It was great to share with Welsh colleagues the great work that is happening as we embark on an expansion of our peer support offer in Wales. Having a Peer Support Coordinator based in Wales and who speaks Welsh will strengthen our team and bring more unheard voices to the table. Terrence Higgins Trust Cymru is a proud partner in the Welsh HIV Action Plan and will continue banging the drum for services for people living with HIV.’
Special thanks to Dr Alessandro Ceccarelli who chaired this insightful session, the organising team at Fast Track Cymru and Zoe Couzens at Public Health Wales.
