{"id":65262,"date":"2022-12-24T16:52:13","date_gmt":"2022-12-24T16:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=65262"},"modified":"2024-11-19T14:24:18","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T14:24:18","slug":"hiv-is-now-treatable-and-preventable-so-why-does-stigma-still-remain-in-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2022\/12\/24\/hiv-is-now-treatable-and-preventable-so-why-does-stigma-still-remain-in-wales\/","title":{"rendered":"HIV is now treatable and preventable. So why does stigma still remain in Wales?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Activists and people living with HIV are shedding light on stigma and addressing what needs to change in Wales<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of Gavin Sheppard who talks about his experience of HIV stigma in this article.\n\" class=\"wp-image-65264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-770x512.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1154x768.jpg 1154w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1623x1080.jpg 1623w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1400x932.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of Gavin Sheppard who talks about his experience of HIV stigma in this article.\n\" class=\"wp-image-65264\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-770x512.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1154x768.jpg 1154w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1623x1080.jpg 1623w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1-1400x932.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/c51d8e12-e4ba-4936-8bbd-431414e4bd7d-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gavin Sheppard says the sooner people can share their status and be comfortable, the quicker we will move forward as a society. [Credit: Ceri Jones]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">For Gavin Sheppard, who has lived with HIV since 2007, the reality of his current treatment is simply taking one tablet a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a busy life as an estate agent, singer and entertainer, he said he wonders if having diabetes would interfere more with his day-to-day life than living with HIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Advances in medication have changed the landscape of living with HIV drastically in the last few decades. According to the Aidsmap website, those accessing the right treatment and care can live a normal life expectancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People on effective treatment can also lower the level of HIV in their blood until it is \u2018undetectable\u2019. Once someone has an undetectable viral load, they are no longer able to pass on HIV through sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Increased access to <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2022\/11\/22\/wales-hiv-testing-week-promotes-free-postal-kits-and-tackles-stigma\/\">testing<\/a> means that the future is looking bright in supporting the Welsh government\u2019s goal of reaching zero new HIV diagnoses by 2030. In fact, a 75 percent reduction in new HIV diagnoses has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.wales\/twenty-six-actions-wales-eliminate-hiv-and-tackle-stigma\">reported<\/a> between 2015 and 2021 in Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So why, when treatment and prevention has advanced so much, does HIV stigma still exist in Wales?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Experiences of stigma living with HIV<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin Sheppard described how there was not a lot of information available when he found out he had HIV aged 21. He said: \u201cMy question initially, which I\u2019m sure is everybody\u2019s question is, how long have I been left to live?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a case of here\u2019s your brochure, go away, deal with it\u2026 Thankfully, me as a person with the personality I have, I got on with it. I\u2019m either going to let this control me or I\u2019m going to control it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 37-year-old Cardiff local described the first time he ever went public about his HIV diagnosis in an ITV documentary in 2016. He described his nervousness to share his status on national TV. Gavin is now open about his status. He said: \u201cThe sooner people can [share their status] and be comfortable, the quicker we will move forward as a society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked specifically about times he experienced stigma, Gavin described the \u201cAre you clean?\u201d question he received multiple times on popular dating app, Grindr. He said this was code for \u201cDo you have HIV?\u201d and would always sarcastically reply: \u201cYeah I just showered this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin additionally described another interaction where he had met up with a man from Grindr and they were then planning to meet up again. At this point Gavin decided to share that he was HIV positive, undetectable. He said: \u201cHe absolutely went off on one\u2026 He said \u201cI\u2019m studying medicine. How dare you put me in this position. I could never possibly date you or sleep with you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat was the point where I turned and said to ITV, I am ready to do the documentary\u2026 Nobody else should ever have to experience what I\u2019ve just experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Nobody else should ever have to experience what I\u2019ve just experienced.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin met his fianc\u00e9, Luke, three years ago. Their engagement made its way into a local news publication when singer, Anastacia, gave him the opportunity to propose during her concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He reflected on the beginning of their relationship: \u201cLuke was absolutely petrified when I told him I had HIV. And he\u2019s a nurse. He\u2019d been in the industry of health and social care for many years and knew very, very little about the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luke has now been able to help other colleagues and nurses in his work and has joined Gavin\u2019s mission to educate people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dispelling misinformation, Gavin said: \u201cLuke and I, we have unprotected sex and we have a very healthy sexual relationship. By taking my medication, I\u2019m not only protecting myself, but I\u2019m protecting him. He doesn\u2019t have to take any medication.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"HIV is now treatable. So why does stigma still exist in Wales?\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7S7Wd1sTs1M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"HIV is now treatable. So why does stigma still exist in Wales?\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7S7Wd1sTs1M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Explainer video: HIV is now treatable and preventable. Why does stigma still remain in Wales?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Opinions from HIV activists<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>HIV stigma, even now, is largely linked to misinformation from the 1980s. This is depicted in Channel 4\u2019s recent \u2018It\u2019s a Sin\u2019 series that sparked an influx in HIV testing. The series depicted ignorance and cruelty facing those living with HIV during that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drew Dalton, founder of Positive Allies and senior lecturer in Sociology, said that HIV related stigma plays into and reinforces existing prejudices about gender, ethnicity, sex and sexuality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;In his time as a HIV activist and researcher, he said he had seen people fired from jobs due to their status, isolated, and bullied by work colleagues. He described how many of these people were too scared to take their employer to justice as they felt they would be either named and shamed in the media or would find further employment difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked why stigma still exists, Dalton suggested that while treatment has come on leaps and bounds, it has also been a \u2018victim of its own success\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He stated: \u201cPeople living with HIV can live a \u2018normal\u2019 life, however the treatment has sidelined discussions about the stigma which continues to remain untackled in the background outside of HIV organisations and activists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-770x578.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-293x220.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-100x75.png 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-770x578.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-293x220.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/UK-STATISTICS-1-100x75.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">HIV is now treatable and preventable. Why does stigma still remain in Wales?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Moving Forward<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Welsh government will be publishing the HIV action plan for Wales in 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to their website, the Welsh Government are committed to achieving zero new HIV diagnoses and zero tolerance of HIV-related stigma by 2030. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Measuring HIV stigma in Wales will help the government address it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adam DN Williams, a research associate at Cardiff University has supervised projects exploring HIV stigma. He said that measuring stigma is difficult because it has many dimensions: population level stigma, self-stigma (internalisation of public stigma), professional stigma (eg. healthcare settings) and institutional level stigma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adam said: \u201c[In Wales] we need an annual measurement to assess levels and experiences of stigma.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drew Dalton argues that it is time to address HIV stigma in an active way. Recognising that so little HIV stigma research discussed the nature of employment and volunteering, he founded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.positiveallies.org\/\">Positive Allies<\/a>. Positive Allies is a free and unique charter mark that shows an organisation actively challenges stigma and is inclusive of people living with HIV by following their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.positiveallies.org\/getpositiveallies\">\u2018five steps to success\u2019.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gavin identified education as the way forward in tackling stigma.&nbsp; He said: \u201cIt\u2019s not pushed through the educational curriculum enough. It\u2019s a topic people avoid, because they don\u2019t know much about it. Teachers, medical professionals, nurses don\u2019t know enough about it. So, if they don\u2019t know enough about it, how can you expect young people off the street to know about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Gavin has been open about his status, he has made it his mission to educate others about the reality of living with HIV now that treatment has advanced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said: \u201cThe more you talk about it, the easier it is to come to terms with it\u2026 It\u2019s not a death sentence. It\u2019s an adjustment to life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"712\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of Gavin Sheppard, smiling. Gavin talks about his experiences of HIV stigma in this article.\n\n\" class=\"wp-image-65273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-770x535.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1536x1067.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-2048x1423.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1105x768.jpg 1105w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1554x1080.jpg 1554w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-293x204.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1400x973.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of Gavin Sheppard, smiling. Gavin talks about his experiences of HIV stigma in this article.\n\n\" class=\"wp-image-65273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-770x535.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1536x1067.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-2048x1423.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1105x768.jpg 1105w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1554x1080.jpg 1554w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-293x204.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/12\/Cropped-Gavin-image-1400x973.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gavin said it was liberating to share his status. [Credit: Ceri Jones]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shedding a light on stigma, activists and people living with HIV are addressing what needs to change in advance of a new Welsh Government HIV action plan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":950,"featured_media":65264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087],"tags":[3144,203,7907,3406,7909,3407,7906,7908,7830],"coauthors":[7658],"class_list":["post-65262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","tag-activism","tag-cardiff","tag-discrimination","tag-hiv","tag-hiv-activists","tag-hiv-testing","tag-hiv-wales","tag-social-issues","tag-stigma"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>HIV is now treatable. So why does stigma still exist in Wales?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Activists and people living with HIV are shedding a light on stigma and addressing what needs to change in Wales.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2022\/12\/24\/hiv-is-now-treatable-and-preventable-so-why-does-stigma-still-remain-in-wales\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"HIV is now treatable. 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