Along with the global community, @peckhamrights commemorates Worlds AIDS Day, which is every year on 1 December.This year, we are highlighting #uequalsu. Do you know what this means? "U=U," or "undetectable equals untransmittable," is great news for people living with HIV, their loved ones, and everyone on the planet! If a person is living with HIV, that person is taking HIV medications, and his/her/their viral load reduces to the point of undetection during blood tests, then that person cannot pass on HIV to a sexual partner, a breast/chest-feeding child, or any other means by which bloodily fluids pass between individuals. Undetectable levels of HIV means that HIV is untransmittable!This is another reason why it is important to know your HIV status. Getting tested regularly means that you can be most certain about your current HIV status. If you are HIV positive, then you can seek treatment, which will lower your viral load. A lower viral load not only makes HIV less untransmittable, but it also will help support a healthier immune system and keep you feeling physically fit. This allows for couples with mixed statuses (HIV positive and HIV negative) to keep safe and provides the possibility to conceive (especially when combining with a pre-exposure prophylaxis, or #prep) and breast/chest-feed infants with minimal risk.Along with #COVID19 now, HIV is another viral pandemic that has impacted societies for around forty years. By increasing awareness of U=U, we can reduce the stigma of HIV, reduce discrimination against those who are positive, keep more people safe, and hopefully end the transmission of HIV once and for all. Use World AIDS Day to learn more about HIV, how it still impacts millions of people around the globe, and what part you can play to spread awareness and lower infection rates.If you have any questions about U=U or HIV in general, please be in touch with us through our webpage (link in bio). Also, feel free to share what new things you have learned about HIV in the comments below!#peckhamrights #everydayhumanrights #youarearightsholder #worldaidsday #undetectableequalsuntransmittable #wad2020 #redribbon #hivstigma #hivaware
