Gareth Thomas’s Tackle HIV Bus Tour made a significant impact as it kicked off at the University of Manchester, aiming to dispel myths and reduce stigma surrounding sexual health. The Tackle HIV initiative, led by Welsh rugby legend Thomas in collaboration with ViiV Healthcare and Terrence Higgins Trust, draws inspiration from his personal experience living with HIV and the prevalent misconceptions surrounding the virus.
Thomas and his team embarked on a journey across the country with Manchester being the first stop on a three-stop tour of universities. Following Manchester, the Tackle HIV bus is set to visit Cardiff next week before concluding the tour in Durham. The primary objective of the tour is to alter public perceptions of HIV, especially among young people who are statistically more likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections.
In an effort to empower change and break down stigma, the 50-year-old Thomas emphasized the importance of providing accurate information to combat misconceptions surrounding HIV. He highlighted the advancements in science and medicine that have transformed the understanding and treatment of HIV, emphasizing that with the right information, stigma can be dismantled. Thomas stressed the significance of continuously delivering this message to educate the public and challenge prevailing stereotypes.
Thomas’s commitment to dispelling myths and raising awareness about HIV extends beyond the university tour. The Tackle HIV team will undertake the Pen y Fan challenge, with Thomas planning to climb the highest peak in South Wales ten times within 24 hours – a physically demanding feat equivalent to scaling Mount Everest. This extraordinary challenge serves as a symbolic gesture to underscore the importance of breaking down stigma associated with HIV.
Helen McDowell, Head of Government Affairs and Global Public Health at ViiV Healthcare, elaborated on the choice to target universities for the Tackle HIV campaign. McDowell emphasized the younger generation’s role as a powerful agent of change, noting their openness and lack of knowledge about HIV in the UK due to limited media coverage. By engaging with students in a safe space, the campaign aims to foster conversations and increase understanding about HIV and its risks.
McDowell highlighted the energy, passion, and desire of young people to address important issues and emphasized their pivotal role in shaping the future. By promoting open-mindedness and combating stigma, particularly around sensitive topics like HIV, the younger generation can influence positive change and contribute to a more inclusive society.
As part of the Tackle HIV tour in Manchester, the team visited local hospitals where the ‘opt-out’ scheme for HIV testing operates in four medical centers. This scheme involves testing for HIV as part of routine blood tests, aiming to increase testing rates and facilitate early diagnosis. Richard Angell, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, emphasized the critical role of testing in achieving the UK’s goal of eliminating new cases of HIV transmission by 2030.
Angell highlighted the success of the ‘opt-out’ scheme in identifying over 1,000 individuals with HIV who were unaware of their status, enabling them to access treatment and care. By detecting and treating HIV early, individuals can achieve an undetectable status, reducing the risk of transmitting the virus. The collaborative efforts of organizations like Terrence Higgins Trust, National AIDS Trust, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation have been instrumental in driving progress towards ending new HIV cases in the UK.
The Tackle HIV campaign, spearheaded by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and Terrence Higgins Trust, aims to challenge stigma and misconceptions surrounding HIV. Through initiatives like the university tour and the ‘opt-out’ testing scheme, the campaign seeks to promote awareness, education, and early detection of HIV to work towards the goal of ending new cases of HIV transmission by 2030. To learn more about the Tackle HIV campaign, visit tacklehiv.org and follow @tacklehiv on social media.