Keep an eye on this page for recent news from Dhiverse and details of our upcoming events:
World AIDS Day 2021
Dhiverse supports everyone living with with HIV, and remembers those who have died from an HIV/AIDS-related illness and their loved ones.
It’s 33 years since the first World AIDS Day and great advances have been made in HIV treatments. People are living well with HIV, and due to effective medication, if fully adhered to, their viral load will be un-detectable which means their HIV will be un-transmittable. The rights of people living with HIV are protected under The Equality Act 2010 and we know far more about the condition than ever before. However, if we’re to meet the government’s goal of eliminating HIV transmissions by 2030 there is still work to be done. There are still people who do not understand HIV and there is still a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding. Although encouraging people to get tested is of course vitally important, this has to be supported by better education and improved psychological support for those affected by HIV. More funding is essential if these things are to happen and if we’re to hit the zero target for new diagnoses by 2030. We support the call for more funding, better psychological support and continued and effective education.
Although in September 2020 we lost the funding which enabled us to provide support to people living with HIV and to train, educate and campaign about HIV and the importance of testing our funding for HIV support, education and training, we are very grateful to the ‘Henry Smith Charity’ for their grant, which enables us to provide much needed counselling for people with HIV, through to 2024. However, demand for the service is high so if you are able to make a small donation to help us see more people please click on the donate tab at the top of the page.
HIV and Mental Health Report: https://www.nat.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/National_AIDS_Trust_IAPT_Report_FINAL.pdf
Support the Red Ribbon Campaign: https://www.nat.org.uk/ribbons-shop
First long-acting injection for HIV approved – November 2021
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59330979.amp
We’re delighted to hear that NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) have approved the treatment and that as many as 13,000 people could make the switch. We also support the thinking that those most in need of the new treatment, such as those who are the most stigmatised, should be prioritised. Having 6 injections a year, rather than taking tablets every day, could make a significant difference to how people live with HIV.
RSE Curriculum
We launched our RSE Curriculum for the 21st Century earlier this year and it’s proving to be very popular! Schools can purchase the full package or individual lessons. We can also deliver any lesson for you either on site (COVID permitting) or virtually. We also offer sexual health talks and drop ins. Follow the link below to see more about what’s on offer.