New online tool helps people living with HIV fight stigma

NAT (National AIDS Trust) is partnering with Reason Digital to create a revolutionary online tool to help people living with HIV, to speak and inform others and to fight stigma

Looped in offers people living with HIV in the UK a range of reliable content developed for different audiences – from people living with HIV to friends, to badual partners, family and health professionals. In a loop, people living with HIV can select content that they want to share and send to whoever they want.

Deborah Gold, National AIDS Trust Chief Executive Officer, said, "NAT is renowned for advocating for the rights of people living with HIV by creating a policy change, but trying to fight stigma is a bigger challenge. complex.

"We know that misinformation about HIV makes things difficult for those who have the virus, and even those who are most comfortable talking about HIV can sometimes find it difficult to challenge misconceptions. We also know that people living with HIV are the strongest advocates of stigma and that talking about HIV can be extremely challenging. In a loop, the discussions on HIV will be strengthened. Giving people a customizable, practical and scalable way to educate others is part of the way we aim to make people understand.

"Developing this unique tool has been really exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing how it's used in the real world and building on what it can do."

Matt Haworth, co-founder of Reason Digital, a digital social enterprise, said, "Endlessly is a unique informative and empathic platform. It is designed to eliminate the social biases and myths surrounding the perceptions of people living with HIV and must be inspiring for a wide range of audiences.

"In the UK, HIV treatment is medically advanced, but there is still a real social bias around the subject. The headlines of the media are often very negative and sensational. Closing on board will contradict that and offer factual answers to medical and social issues. "

LeaSuwanna, a woman living with HIV in London, said:

"Living with HIV has not been a big problem for me. You try to stay healthy and take your medicine so that you can not spread the virus. However, when I said that I had HIV, I was asked if I would die or if I had AIDS. Public awareness of HIV has not improved as much as treatment. For people with the virus, it can be tiring, intimidating or difficult to explain the same facts all the time.

Sue Wicks, Chief Investment Officer at Comic Relief, who funded this project, said, "We are extremely excited about the launch of Looped, which will truly improve the quality of life for people living with HIV and AIDS.

"Our partnership with M AIDS A C AIDS Fund supports organizations that use innovative digital approaches to strengthen prevention, care and access to treatment. It is a shining example of this and will also help to overcome the stigma of HIV and AIDS, which often prevents people from getting the vital support they need. "

In 2017 in the UK, an estimated 101,600 people are living with HIV and 92% of them are diagnosed, which still means that approximately one in 12 people living with HIV is living with HIV. in the UK ignores that she is infected with the virus. 98% of HIV-positive people in the United Kingdom are undergoing treatment. 97% of people on treatment undergo viral suppression, which means that they can not transmit the virus. Of all people living with HIV in the United Kingdom (diagnosed and undiagnosed), 87% are suppressed by the viral route. *

* https://www.nat.org.uk/we-inform/HIV-statistics/UK-statistics