Buildings shine a light on World AIDS Day

Buildings around Perth and Kinross will be lit up red to mark World AIDS Day tomorrow.

World AIDS Day will be marked around the globe on Saturday, December 1, and NHS Tayside’s sexual health and blood borne virus managed care network is determined to “paint the town red” for the day.

Businesses, charities and NHS Tayside will be joining together to lit up red to symbolise the red ribbon, the universal mark of awareness and support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS.

Laura Shepherd, HIV care coordinator at the health board, said: “We wish to shine a light on World AIDS Day.

“We’re hoping that with the help of our partners, sharing positive messages around HIV treatment, we can begin to challenge and remove some of the stigma around HIV.”

And Donna Thain, the managed care network manager for NHS Tayside, also said: “Lots of myths and out of date information exist around HIV causing unnecessary fear and stigma.

“Our network wants to make sure that people living in Tayside know the facts.

“People living with HIV on treatment and who have undetectable viral loads cannot pass on the virus.

“We’re asking people to visit our website www. sexualhealthtayside.org or pop along to one of our information stalls to find out more and to wear a red ribbon.”

Although there have been major advances in HIV treatment over the last 30 years, there is currently still no cure for the disease.

However, patients with low levels of HIV cannot transmit the disease sexually, which is a major breakthrough in ending new HIV transmissions.

Dr Ciara Cunningham, genitourinary medicine consultant at NHS Tayside, said: “This should send a strong message to our community that people on effective HIV treatment can live healthily with this virus and do not transmit it to others.

“We hope that this encourages more people to test and to recognise the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.”