'My HIV is no longer a death sentence'

A 68-year-old man named Mark, living near Gloucester, is urging people to educate themselves about HIV, stressing that the virus "is no longer a death sentence". Diagnosed in 2015, Mark initially felt "confused and in a state of low-grade shock," believing HIV only affected others. Thanks to modern treatment, his virus is now undetectable.

Current NHS guidelines recommend daily, lifelong antiretroviral therapy, which stops the virus from reproducing. This allows the immune system to recover and reduces the viral load to undetectable levels. People with an undetectable viral load can live without fear of transmitting HIV through sexual contact.

Mark now takes his medication daily, keeping the virus fully suppressed. "It's no longer the condition it was," he says. "There's hope." He recalls first learning about HIV decades before his diagnosis through the 'Don't Die of Ignorance' campaign, which highlighted the lack of a cure and featured stark imagery of a tombstone. Despite treatment advances, Mark believes public understanding has not kept pace.

"I spoke to someone recently about being HIV positive but undetectable, and she didnt know what that meant," he explained. "It really showed me that people often only hear part of the story. Treatment has come so far that HIV does not have to be a death sentence."

Mark describes his diagnosis as initially "bewildering" but feels deeply grateful for the support he received, particularly from the Brigstowe Project in Bristol, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of those living with HIV and reducing stigma. After receiving help, he began volunteering to support others.

"I didnt aim to be an activist, but I wanted to understand my condition and help others do the same," he said. Returning to college, he also reconnected with his art, which he now uses to lead workshops. "In a way, Ive come to terms with it," Mark reflects. "If you follow your treatment plan and take care of yourself, you can maintain a healthy outlook just like anyone else."

Author: Sophia Brooks