Positive Life is launching an education programme to help employers with the myths and misunderstandings around HIV.
The organisation is Northern Ireland's only HIV-dedicated charity.
The initiative has been announced this week as December 1 marks World AIDS Day, with the most recent statistics for Northern Ireland showing there were 76 new diagnoses in 2021, 12 of which were women.
Read more: Northern Ireland sees 12% increases in new HIV cases
It brings the total number of people living with the condition here to 1325, the highest it has been in five years.
Positive Life's CEO Jacquie Richardson said the charity was keen to dispel myths and stigmas around the condition.
“World AIDS Day remains an important date as it’s an opportunity not only to address the unjustified discrimination that people living with HIV routinely experience, but also to highlight the needless stigma still surrounding the condition," she said.
"For instance, some people still assume that AIDS and HIV are the same thing. Many believe HIV to be exclusive to the gay community.
"And as treatments have progressed, many don’t understand that onward transmission is virtually impossible where someone is living with an undetectable viral load in their blood."
The Positive Life CEO went on to say that she was hopeful other workplaces would follow fonaCAB's example, after the Belfast taxi firm became the first employer to sign up to the education programme.
"Positive Life would like to see workplaces across Northern Ireland have the appropriate policies in place to protect and support its employees, and ensure potential employees living with HIV feel able to apply for new roles, whilst also giving the entire workforce the tools to take ownership of their sexual health," she added.
The fonaCAB Managing Director William McCausland said: “We see the work Jacquie and her team do as crucial to the future landscape of Northern Ireland and that is why we have chosen to support Positive Life.
"Discrimination of any kind has no place in our offices, our cabs or our communities so we’re looking forward to rolling out the Positive About HIV Programme to ensure that our drivers and staff are better equipped to understand the impact of living and working in Northern Ireland with HIV.”
Jacquie Richardson told Belfast Live that it was with these steps that the goal of eradicating stigma and discrimination could be reached.
“Our service users tell us they feel shame and depression on a regular basis, and often don’t feel accepted enough to share their status, carrying the burden alone.
"World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people to recognise and address their own biases and prejudices, and resolve to not feed into the negative stereotypes," she added.
“I hope that people will don their red ribbons this World AIDS Day, but even more so I hope that leaders and decision makers will engage with us as we continue our mission challenging negative perception and busting the myths around HIV to create a positive future for people living with or affected by the condition.”
READ NEXT:
- HIV rocked actor Matthew's life but proved to be a blessing
- NI parent's delight as formerly conjoined twins heading home from hospital in time for Christmas
- Suicide deaths in Northern Ireland increase as one in every three was someone aged under 30
- Northern Ireland £600 electricity payment could be used on other bills under UK government plans
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
