‘The stigma surrounding HIV is a huge issue’

Alex Sparrowhawk, programme officer at Terrence Higgins Trust, was diagnosed with HIV 24 years ago. Here he reveals what Gareth Thomas going public means for people living with the condition

THIS weekend Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas revealed to the world that he’s living with HIV. He’s compared his diagnosis to being hit by an express train.

That’s pretty similar to how I felt when I received my own diagnosis a decade ago at just 24 years old.

It was a complete bolt from the blue and left me with so many questions whirring around my head.

How am I going to tell my family? Can I still have sex? Am I going to die? But – just like Gareth – my life went on from that moment.

I told my friends and family while providing up-todate information about the realities of HIV.

I learned that effective HIV treatment means I can still have sex without any possibility of passing on the virus to my partner.

And no, I’m not going to die – life expectancy for people living with HIV is now the same as the general population.

The reason why that “hit by a train” feeling happens is because most people don’t know enough about HIV until they or someone close to them is diagnosed.

Then they’re needlessly scared to death before they learn about the realities of HIV and realise that medical progress since the 1980s has been huge.

The abhorrent stigma surrounding HIV is also a huge issue. From dating apps to dentists, I’m never far away from having to educate others about HIV.

Recent polling by us at Terrence Higgins Trust is a clear example of how rife HIV stigma remains.

We found that almost half of people would feel uncomfortable kissing someone living with HIV. As someone living with HIV I find that stat both horrifying and hurtful.

HIV has never been passed on through kissing or day-to-day contact.

But we know from working with Gareth that he’s a man on a mission to update people’s knowledge of HIV and be the living proof that you can live a full life with HIV.

The reason he put himself through an Ironman the day after he “went public” about his HIV status was to show unequivocally that he’s in the best shape of his life thanks to the HIV medication that keeps him well.

So for Gareth and for me – and anyone who’s had that “hit by a train” diagnosis – please make sure you find out more about the realities of HIV. Because we’ve made huge progress, you might just have missed it.

■ If you have any questions about HIV, call THT Direct on 0808 802 1221 or visit tht.org.uk/thtdirect