More than twenty years ago, the first scientific studies reported cases of non-transmission of HIV between serodiscordant couples (where one partner lives with HIV and the other is uninfected) when the viral load is low. Since then, especially after Shocking confirmation in a study published in 2016Extensively verified scientific data indicates unequivocally that when a person with HIV receives effective treatment, they do not transmit the virus.
This scientific evidence gave rise to the concept of non-detectable = non-transmissible, also known as “i=i”. Undetectable means that the viral load, or the amount of virus in the blood, is very low, while non-transmissible means that when the viral load is undetectable, i.e. suppressed, HIV is not transmitted.
While this scientific fact still receives little media coverage in the field of HIV, it is practically unknown by the general population. After the success of the campaign “I am HIV positive and visible”Launched in 2022, CAD continues to give voice to people living with HIV and now gives visibility to social networks, through five honest and open video-recorded conversations, involving spouses, co-workers, friends, family members and healthcare professionals. Share their experiences and perspectives on living with people living with HIV, highlighting how scientific evidence “undetectable = non-transmissible” has changed their lives.
“These conversations show that people living with HIV are not alone, that information is power, and that it is the responsibility of those not living with HIV to learn more about the virus and stop bias and discrimination once and for all. Enables effective HIV treatment Humanity wants people to live long and healthy lives, and prevent transmission of the virus through sexual contact and other ways. Unfortunately, few people share this knowledge.laments João Brito, CAD Coordinator, and explains “People living with HIV are still discriminated against in many areas because of the fear of HIV that arose during the dark years of the epidemic, but it is time to abandon this paradigm.”.
“Training is also essential to eliminate discriminatory contexts, which is why we have warned over these decades of the importance of state and institutional investment in training and capacity-building measures not only for communities living with HIV, but also for populations living with HIV. With HIV Humanity in general, breaking myths, beliefs and stigmatizing social attitudes.Adds Ana Duarte, CAD coordinator in charge of the training area.
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