Radio 4 listeners response to National AIDS Trust’s appeal raised £2,665 to help people living with HIV in the UK.
In our appeal we told you about older people living with HIV. Often these are long term survivors of the AIDS crisis - the first generation to grow old with HIV. Many suffer from the damage caused by earlier life-saving but toxic drugs, many live in poverty, and many are discriminated against in care and medical settings. There has also been a rise in the number of people over the age of fifty diagnosed with HIV.
Your support means that we are helping older people to stop being afraid of living into older age with HIV. We are working with care providers and with older people themselves to improve knowledge of HIV and to reduce stigma and discrimination. We are also successfully challenging the nationwide cuts to HIV support services which are a real lifeline to people living with HIV.
Jonathan Grimshaw, who presented our appeal said:
Older people living with HIV have many fears and are often exposed to ignorance and prejudice, even in medical and care settings. Your support helps NAT to change this, allowing people living with HIV to stop being afraid and to grow old with dignity.
You can find out more about the charity