Comment: Support for young people living with HIV

Thursday 27 August 2009

Fifteen young members living with or affected by HIV from the Children and Young People HIV Network, based at NCB, attended the 'Seventh Annual Meeting for Young People Affected by HIV' in Barcelona from 22 to 26 July.

Clare is 19 and was born with HIV. This is her story:

"I became involved with the HIV Network two years ago. I live in an area where there are no support groups, so I attend some of the national events - it was great getting the opportunity to go to Barcelona.

"I wanted to go and meet other young people like me, living with HIV, as I don't have the opportunity to meet many people at home.

"The HIV Network tries to bring people who don't have key workers so they don't miss out on anything.

"In Barcelona, we did a drama workshop about disclosing our status to a boyfriend or girlfriend, and a graffiti wall. I enjoyed the graffiti wall the most.

"Our group painted a person breaking through a brick wall - it meant the person had gone through a lot of challenges and now they were breaking through them and being triumphant.

"In the UK, I think the biggest problem for young people living with HIV is the stigma. If you tell people they might not want to talk to you anymore or be friends. I haven't experienced much discrimination because I haven't told anyone.

"I used to get upset, like at school, when people would talk about HIV and say there is no cure and you will die if you have it. I would get worried and think: am I going to die then?

"Now when I hear things like that, I just think these people don't know any better. Educating people would improve things a lot in the UK. People should be given the correct information and taught about all different things like HIV.

"The best thing about the conference was meeting different people and hopefully staying in touch with them."