'People are still afraid of those three letters': Fighting the stigma of HIV
Former rugby star Gareth Thomas and advocate Welton Gabriel are working to combat the social stigma surrounding HIV. Despite medical advancements that make the virus manageable, discrimination remains a significant barrier for those living with the condition.
Why it matters
Addressing the stigma associated with HIV is critical for public health, as it encourages testing and adherence to life-saving treatments.
RIO DE JANEIRO -- "People are still afraid of those three letters," says Gareth Thomas, a former Welsh rugby star.
He's talking about HIV. Thomas became a global champion for people living with HIV when he announced that he was HIV positive in 2019.
Since then, he has been a strong advocate for sharing knowledge about the virus –- and what it's like to live with it.
This summer, he came to Rio de Janeiro to participate in the International AIDS Conference and to spread his message as part of the Tackle HIV campaign .
That message resonates with another advocate: Welton Gabriel, a 36-year-old event organizer from Sao Paolo.
Sitting in a bar overlooking the world-famous Ipanema beach, Welton Gabriel recalled the night 12 years earlier when he learned he had tested positive for HIV.
"I thought I was gonna die," he remembers.
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