Can we eradicate HIV?

‘’Any movement starts with one person at a time...’’

These were the words ringing through my ears as I listened to the account of George, a young man from the USA who has been living with HIV for the past five years.

I was sitting in the Grand Committee Room in the House of Commons for the Stop AIDS Speaker Tour, a part of the Stop AIDS Campaign. Joining George on the panel of speakers were Esnart from Zambia and Bonani from Zimbabwe. The meeting was chaired by Pauline Latham OBE MP, Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and AIDS.

George, Esnart, and Bonani had different experiences of HIV. Whereas the first two had contracted the virus from others, Bonani’s experience differed in that he watched his brother, TJ, die from it.

The three speakers represented the scope of the virus across two different continents. In addition to there being disparities in access to medication, all three speakers stressed the lack of access to quality treatment which could enhance the quality of life for a person living with HIV. George for instance said there were very little support services available in his state for someone who had just discovered they were living with HIV. Upon learning of his status, he fell into a deep depression and turned to alcohol and cocaine to numb his pain. Touchingly, Bonani also recalled how his brother did not die from the virus; rather it was the lack of love and support from his family which had killed his spirit.
Meanwhile in Zambia, Esnart had watched both her husband and child die in a relatively short space of time but thought this may have been owing to other illnesses. One day she read a book about HIV and decided to get herself tested. She tested positive for HIV.

There are many issues at play here from the lack of vital services to the need for greater awareness and education on HIV. The experiences encountered by George, Esnart, and Bonani have led them to be active campaigners against the virus. It is a deadly virus but one that is also very complex in its character. Just as importantly, there is no cure for HIV. This makes it all the more important for us all to become more involved.
Perhaps the most inspirational story of the night came from Esnart. After her HIV positive status had been confirmed she met a man whom she fell in love with. One night, he confessed to her that he had HIV. They eventually married and had a child together who was put on treatment immediately after birth. Just recently, their daughter had her final HIV test which tested negative, meaning their daughter is officially free of the virus (despite both mother and father living with HIV).

Esnart’s story gives hope that there is every possibility of halting, reversing, and eradicating HIV.

Hall leading into Westminster

Big Ben

Grand Committee Room, House of Commons (more pics below)