Every person diagnosed with HIV deserves to live a life full of joy, purpose and possibility and be free from the weight of stigma and isolation. As someone who has been living with HIV since my late teens, I know just how much things can change and I’m here to share how change is possible. In fact, it’s already happening. For 12 years, I’ve carried this diagnosis and with each year I’ve seen more progress, more support and a shift in how we view HIV. It’s no longer just about survival; it’s about living well.

The importance of peer support

That’s why I am so passionate about the value that lived experience support in sexual health clinics has to people living with the virus. It’s a compassionate, holistic approach that ensures people living with HIV not only access the care they need but also have the emotional and social support to thrive with it. Living with HIV should not be about surviving, it’s about thriving.

As a Peer Support Team Leader for the George House Trust, a partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, I’m proud to represent what living well with HIV looks like. It’s more than just taking medication. It’s about creating a safe space for people to share their experiences, reduce stigma and reengage with their care.

Tackling stigma and fear

We have a responsibility to break down the walls of fear and isolation so many people face and often leads to them not seeking the help they desperately need. Stigma surrounding HIV is still one of the greatest challenges we face. It’s not HIV that kills people, but the stigma, the silence, the fear and the shame which surrounds it. People are still afraid to get tested, to seek care and talk openly about their diagnosis. This fear, combined with isolation, prevents so many from living their best lives.

We’ve come a long way since I was first diagnosed. Today, there’s a message that gives hope and power to people living with HIV: U=U, undetectable equals untransmittable. This means if you’re on effective treatment and your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass on HIV to others. That’s revolutionary. It liberates me to say I can have sex with my partner without fear of passing HIV on, due to the effective medication I take.

Supporting people at every stage

I support people in all stages of their journey, whether they’ve just been diagnosed, are re-engaging with their care, or have been living with HIV for years. The power of peer support cannot be overstated. It’s through these connections, these shared experiences, that we can rebuild self-worth, address the psychological impacts of the virus and reduce transmission, by ensuring people stay on treatment and feel empowered.

A large part of the job is helping patients navigate the right support in the community for issues such as housing, welfare and immigration matters. Connecting people to peer groups, mentoring and counselling is crucial for people who have been newly diagnosed. I helped set up the newly diagnosed group THRIVE, which is for people who have been living with HIV for under 2 years.

The impact of opt-out testing

Since the introduction of NHS England’s blood borne virus opt-out testing in emergency departments, there have been 1000 new HIV diagnoses. I recently supported a patient who tested positive in 2023, and they told me, ‘‘As frightening as it has been, I am glad I got the diagnosis, because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have known and may have put other people at risk’’.

Living with HIV is now about living life to the full

As we work towards the goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, I am incredibly proud to be a part of the expansion of the opt-out testing programme and the strides being made in Greater Manchester and Liverpool. Our growing peer support network is helping those newly diagnosed to access care, but it’s also playing a pivotal role in ensuring people continue to live full and healthy lives.

Living with HIV isn’t about just surviving, it’s about thriving. It’s about knowing you’re not alone, knowing support is there when you need it and that a full, vibrant life is waiting for you. If I can thrive, so can you. Let’s make sure every person living with HIV feels the same.

For more information on HIV testing services, visit the nhs.uk website.

Publication reference: BL00014