Akhona Ndudane HIV Awareness Campaign launched across Leeds

Local TV

A HIV Advocate and Peer Mentor from Leeds has launched the second edition of a campaign which challenges stigma and discrimination linked to HIV and AIDS while promoting dignity, education, and healing.

Transcript

00:00My name is Akwa Nandudane, original I'm from South Africa, I live in Leeds.

00:05Today I am here launching my second edition of HIV awareness, stigma and discrimination.

00:14By doing this I want people to know that you can live with HIV by taking medication

00:20so that it will suppress a viral load.

00:23So when I'm saying it's suppressing the viral load, it means you is equal to you.

00:28You is undetectable and either you is untransputable.

00:34The Robberton Wing Clinic provides HIV service for those who are HIV positive

00:40and clinics are in Leeds, Wakefield and Dewsbury and we have about two and a half thousand patients.

00:50They will attend for review, blood and treatment for HIV.

00:54Last September, blood-borne virus testing started in Leeds across both EDs in the Trusts,

01:05so at LGI and St James'.

01:07So since the end of September any patient over the age of 16 who attends A&E and has a use and ease blood test

01:17blood test should automatically be tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

01:26I want to make another example. I have a partner. My partner is negative and me I am living with HIV.

01:34My partner is still negative. He will always be negative because my viral load is undetectable.

01:42Me and O'Connor have been together quite a while now and I too have tested for HIV and I have tested negative.

01:50Like O'Connor said, it is very imperative to catch it early.

01:54With the treatment out there it is saving lives. It's not the stigma that's attached to when people in the past die from it.

02:02I am living proof. I was born in this country. O'Connor has been here quite a lot of years now.

02:08And you know, for O'Connor to be accepted by myself, it makes her feel more accepted in society.

02:17The fact that she's got someone that cares, that understands, that loves her.

02:20And you know, she can have a normal life with a partner that's not going to judge her.

02:27And you know, for me personally, stigma can kill people alone, you know.

02:35The reasoning behind this is by 2030, the aim is to have zero age-related illnesses, zero transmissions of HIV, zero stigma, zero TB.

02:56And that is the target by 2030.

02:59Now, what I want to think about myself is to have Kay...

03:01F

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