HIV patient calls for pubs to hand out condoms and health advice
An HIV patient who has lived with the virus for 36 years has called for all pubs to hand out free condoms and sexual health information.
John Percy, who was told that he would survive for just three years when he was diagnosed, said most gay venues promote sexual health and hand out condom packs.
And he has called on other clubs and pubs to follow suit.
The 57-year-old, who is originally from Port Glasgow, has lived with HIV since the 1980s and is thought to be the UK’S longest surviving patient.
He has dedicated his life to raising awareness of the condition.
Mr Percy called for more money for sexual health services, saying that budgets had been “slashed” in recent years.
He also said he would like more sexual health information to be provided in pubs, schools and youth groups.
“Every gay venue you go into there is sexual health information and most gay venues hand outfreecondompacks,whereas in heterosexual pubs you don’t get free condom packs, you don’t get sexual health information,” he said.
“To me that should be regimental right through. If the government could fund that it would be fantastic.”
He said he was disowned after he contracted the virus following an attack in which he was sexually assaulted and stabbed with a used needle.