Thank you! – Health News

Because 2020 has been such a strange and difficult year, we wanted to say an extra special thank you to all our supporters, friends, partners and allies for everything we’ve been able to achieve this year. We’ve responded quickly to the information need on COVID-19 for people with HIV, following the science closely from the beginning and sharing accurate and accessible information for anyone who needs it. As we move into 2021, let’s celebrate our collective strength and some of the amazing things we’ve done together.

We brought vital news in HIV prevention and treatment to people all over the world with 615,000 visits to aidsmap.com in July alone, the month in which we reported on the case of a Brazilian patient in long-term HIV remission. Our coverage included an exclusive video interview with one of the doctors involved, a detailed news report and a blog post explaining the importance of this possibly pivotal moment in the history of HIV.

aidsmapCHAT offered expert perspective on the topics, news and updates on COVID-19 from around the world for people living with HIV. This series of live 30-minute broadcasts accessible via social media features an incredible range of guests, with over 225,000 views to date.

Glossary

Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)

U=U stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable. It means that when a person living with HIV is on regular treatment that lowers the amount of virus in their body to undetectable levels, there is zero risk of passing on HIV to their partners. The low level of virus is described as an undetectable viral load.

stigma

Social attitudes that suggest that having a particular illness or being in a particular situation is something to be ashamed of. Stigma can be questioned and challenged.

anxiety

A feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, which can be mild or severe. Anxiety disorders are conditions in which anxiety dominates a person’s life or is experienced in particular situations.

remission

The disappearance of signs and symptoms of a disease, usually in response to treatment. The term is often used in relation to cancer, indicating that there is no evidence of disease, although the possibility of cancer remaining in the body cannot be ruled out. In HIV, remission is an alternative term for ‘functional cure’. A sustained ART-free remission would boost the immune system to induce long-term control of HIV, allowing a person living with HIV to maintain an undetectable viral load without daily medication.

aidsmapLIVE continued to share knowledge on important topics within HIV treatment and prevention, such as weight gain, the steps women can take during lockdown to manage an abusive situation, and the impact of PrEP on people from sub-Saharan Africa, gathering over 200,000 views.

Our Emerging Voices programme gave new writers opportunities to develop their skills by writing, updating and editing information and articles on aidsmap.com, while receiving coaching and support from NAM’s editors.

In partnership with Watipa, we launched HIV Lens, an interactive online mapping tool that visualises the impact of the HIV epidemic on communities across England, to facilitate accurate data sharing and smarter allocation of resources.