Wycombe event to mark the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day

Health and Social Care

2018 is the thirtieth anniversary of World AIDS Day, and it will be marked in Buckinghamshire with an event at O’Neill’s Pub in High Wycombe on 1 December.

World AIDS Day is a time for us all to remember the lives lost to HIV/AIDS, but Buckinghamshire Sexual Health and Wellbeing Service (bSHaW) also wants to look towards a brighter future by showing local residents how together they can work towards achieving zero stigma and zero transmissions for people living with HIV in Buckinghamshire.

Today, medical advances have come on leaps and bounds, and ending HIV transmission in the UK is finally within sight. From condoms, to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), to treatment and testing, we now have a range of tools that can prevent HIV transmission.

The most recent Public Health England figures for 2017 revealed that there were 431 new HIV diagnoses and 9,423 people living with HIV in South East England.

#ZeroHIV stigma and #ZeroHIV transmissions are the themes behind the event at O’Neill’s Pub in High Wycombe on 1st December between 6-10pm, which is being held by bSHaW (a partnership between Terrence Higgins Trust and Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust) with the support of Buckinghamshire County Council.

But the evening is set to entertain as well as inform, with a performance by the Berkshire College of Agriculture Drama Group followed by drag act Cherry Liquor.

Noel Brown, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement & Public Health, said: “World Aids Day is an occasion when we wear a red ribbon to remember the lives lost to HIV/AIDS, but it is also a time to look to the future, working together to achieve zero stigma and zero transmission for people living with HIV.”

Nigel French, HIV and Sexual Health Practitioner at Terrence Higgins Trust in Buckinghamshire, said:”On 1st December, people all over the world will wear a red ribbon in remembrance to those who lost their lives to HIV.

“We’re encouraging people to come along to our event on 1st December at O’Neill’s Pub in High Wycombe, and wear their red ribbons with pride. With your help we can tackle stigma and support people living with HIV.

“We will continue to work toward #ZeroHIV transmissions and #ZeroHIV stigma for all those lives lost since the first World AIDS Day 30 years ago, and all those with us today who will be right by our side helping us get there.”

Get your ribbon here: www.tht.org.uk/worldaidsday