“In many ways being alive is more scary than dying; there was an end that was definite. Moving into old age with HIV means a lot of uncertainty that I never anticipated having to deal with. Plus if I knew I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of my teeth.”
Michael, diagnosed with HIV in 1985

To mark World AIDS Day (December 1st), HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has launched a collection of first person accounts from men and women living with HIV in the UK today.

The collection, 21st Century HIV, tells the stories of ten very different individuals, including a gay man diagnosed in the mid 1980s, a Zimbabwe-born police officer who lost her husband to AIDS, and a woman diagnosed while pregnant with her second child.

Told in their own words, these frank, often moving accounts highlight some of the issues still faced by people with HIV, including discrimination in the workplace, the ill health that results from being diagnosed late, and the serious concerns for the future of those growing older with HIV.

Thirty years on from the start of the epidemic, HIV remains the UK’s fastest growing serious health condition. By the end of next year, there will be over 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, a quarter of whom will be undiagnosed.

Catherine Murphy, Head of Public Affairs for THT, said: “HIV may not be a death sentence anymore, but it is a complex health condition that can impact on many aspects of a person’s life and relationships. Too often in the UK, people with HIV face greater challenges in their lives than others.

"World AIDS Day is a time to remember those who have died with AIDS, but it’s also a chance to reflect on the situation of the thousands of people living with HIV in this country.

“We hope that the stories within 21st Century HIV will foster a greater understanding of what it's like to live with HIV, and go some way to combat the widespread stigma and misunderstanding that still surrounds the condition.”

21st Century HIV is available for download from www.tht.org.uk/21.