Openly Positive contributes to HAICU Conference at UCT

Posted by giles in Talks

Derrick Fine represented Openly Positive at a University of Cape Town (UCT) Colloquium on Narrative and Nostalgia in HIV Education and Research, hosted by HAICU (the HIV/AIDS Institutional Co-ordination Unit at UCT) on 21 September 2011.

Derrick showed the Whisper Not DVD and spoke on Reflections on using our stories of living with HIV in education. He concluded: “HIV and AIDS stigma, silence and denial is still with us, and we hope our stories will help reduce stigma and encourage other people living with or affected by HIV to disclose and tell their stories when they feel ready.

Our personal reasons for telling our stories include: releasing our own burden and healing, easing the journey of others, being able to draw on support, promoting our visibility as people living with HIV, challenging and reducing stigma, and remembering and honouring dear people we have lost over the years.

We wish to bring hope to especially younger people that, by knowing your HIV status and living positively, including getting access to ARV treatment when you need it, you can live a long, happy and very productive life.”

HAICU is the HIV/AIDS Institutional Co-ordination Unit at UCT. They can be contacted through Lucina Reddy on 021 650 1004 or at lucina.reddy@uct.ac.za