The Informer

2 Jul 2018

‘Consider your words with compassion’, Melbourne man who contracted HIV while on PrEP shares his story

Health, HIV, Media, News & Politics, the informer, World News

Two days after it was reported that a Melbourne Man had contracted HIV while on the PrEPX study Chris Williams wrote the following in emen8.com.au in an article titled Facing our fears: What does news of a possible PrEP failure mean?

‘Remember that somewhere in Victoria one person is the subject of our social commentary. If you feel compelled to join in, consider your words with compassion.’

In a media release from the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC), two possible causes for the Victorian case were mentioned:

If a person is not adherent to their PrEP regimen or;

If a person comes into sexual contact with a person living with HIV who has a detectable viral load together with a strain of the virus that is resistant to PrEP medication,

At the time they didn’t yet know why this has occurred, just that it had been reported that it had.

These were the facts being reported with the information people had, and with these facts, people speculated online and in the media which lead to gossip and rumors that fueled greater stigma for this person and all people living with HIV.

Now on The Informer, the Melbourne man who contracted HIV while on the antiretroviral medication is sharing his experience of what it was like having his voice taken away from him and what that meant for his journey.

A full podcast of this interview will be available to download Tuesday morning via www.joy.org.au or on your preferred podcast platform.

This segment aired on The Informer on JOY 94.9 on 2nd July & was hosted by Dean Arcuri.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:43 — 10.7MB)

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