Broadening Our Understanding of HIV

Thank you to Positive Voice speaker, Emma Cole, for an incredibly candid and insightful talk to Years 10-13 on HIV in this week’s PSHE session.

With World AIDS Day approaching next week, Emma, who was diagnosed with HIV 31 years ago talked incredibly openly about her individual experiences of being diagnosed with HIV and being told by doctors that she had 8-10 years to live. And she talked about the impact that being an HIV positive woman has had on her life and her relationships.

Emma dispelled myths and admitted her own limited understanding about HIV when she was younger:

“I didn’t know that anyone could be impacted by the virus – I thought it was just gay men and drug users sharing needles and so my only concern about sex was getting pregnant.”

Emma, who has released two BBC documentaries about HIV, covered what HIV is, how it is transmitted, how it affects you and the impact of medication. She talked about U=U, undetectable = untransmissible – meaning that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load by taking antiretroviral therapy daily cannot sexually transmit the virus, and how this has been a complete game changer for so many - taking away her own fears of having sex.

Despite advancements in medication, Emma discussed the problems we face today and how there is still a huge stigma around HIV, and how, 40 years after the virus was identified, we still have no vaccine against it. She also talked about the massive inequalities in access to treatment across the globe. Recognising her privilege, she said, “Every day I wake up and I am thankful to be here,” explaining that she is eternally grateful to have access to the treatment she needs to keep her alive, unlike 10 million others across the world.

Emma welcomed questions and encouraged pupils not to worry about asking anything. Pupils took the opportunity to ask Emma perceptive questions from whether she thought people who have an undetectable viral load should disclose they have HIV to a potential partner to whether HIV positive women can have children and what it means for the child.

Emma concluded with the message to pupils to never underestimate what they’re capable of and the power of a positive mental attitude, citing her own experience of running a marathon in her twenty sixth year post HIV diagnosis with just 100 days to train.

Thank you, Emma, for such an impactful and informative talk.