Rome, 25 November (Adnkronos Salute) – Promoting health, awareness and giving a voice to people living with HIV. On the occasion of World AIDS Day (1 December), Gilead Sciences announced the launch of ‘Choose You’, a new awareness campaign aimed at people living with the infection to support long-term well-being, sponsored by 17 patient associations. “Living with HIV today does not mean giving up your quality of life, but choosing to listen to yourself, take care of yourself and look to the future with confidence. The first step is to talk to your doctor and start treatment immediately, thereby achieving viral load suppression and non-transmission of the virus as soon as possible,” our note reads.
HIV remains a global health challenge today. According to the latest data, it is estimated that there are more than 40 million people living with HIV in the world. In Italy, new diagnoses recorded an increasing trend compared to previous years, with 2,379 new cases in 2024, so attention remains on the need for prevention, screening, as well as immediate access to treatment and improving the quality of life of those living with the infection. Today, advances in therapeutics have enabled a transformation of HIV management. Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, people who contract this infection can live long and healthy lives, with a life expectancy comparable to that of the general population. But there is still much work to be done to dismantle the misinformation, stigma and self-stigma that still surrounds HIV, the campaign’s advocates say.
The fundamental goal – as they recall – is represented by the scientific principle U=U (Undetectable = Non-Infectious, i.e. undetectable = non-infectious), which states that undergoing therapy following a prescribed therapeutic scheme allows you to reduce the amount of virus in the blood to a level undetectable by laboratory tests, and therefore not transmit the infection to others. “U=U is a scientific demonstration that therapy is not just a life saver, but a very powerful tool for public health and destigmatization. People with a stably suppressed viral load can fully enjoy their social and personal relationships, without fear of transmitting the virus. This certainty allows people with HIV to look to their future with confidence, without giving up on themselves and their aspirations”, said Viviana Rizzo, infectious diseases specialist at Colli hospital, Cotugno hospital in Naples.
As life expectancy increases, the needs of people living with HIV change. The focus has shifted to managing age-related comorbidities and chronic inflammation, as well as psychological, physical and emotional well-being. The goal is no longer simply to control the virus, but to ensure a good quality of life in the long term. “Today treating HIV means treating the person as a whole. It is very important that the dialogue between doctor and patient is continuous and open, not only regarding clinical needs, but also personal needs. This allows us to immediately address any aspects that may affect the effectiveness of the treatment or the overall well-being of the person, guaranteeing a tailored therapeutic pathway, being able to ensure a good quality of life and always placing the patient at the center of clinical attention”, explains Davide Moschese, infectious diseases specialist at Asst Fatebenefratelli Sacco of Milan.
The ‘Choose You = The Choice is Yours’ campaign was born precisely from this awareness. Through the stories of people living with HIV who have chosen to put their needs, dreams and goals first, the campaign aims to inspire, inform and encourage open dialogue with doctors, offering real tools to protect yourself, feel healthy and live a full life. On the website www.chooseyouhiv.it there are informational materials and videos from the protagonists of the campaign who have decided to tell their stories to inspire those living with this infection with their stories.
“I chose my family. I chose my job. I chose my friends. I chose the life I built for myself”; “Being able to talk about the fact that I have HIV with my friends, and not only that, is slowly freeing me from this burden. It’s really liberating”; “I choose not to be embarrassed, because there is no need to be embarrassed. In the end it is a virus”; “My personal story is deeply connected to the association I founded. It was a way to grow, it helped me, and if it was important to me, maybe it was important to other people too.” This is the statement of Daria, Salvio, Nicoletta and Sandro, the 4 main characters of the campaign who share their life experiences, showing that it is not only living with this virus, but also choosing to be the main character in one’s life story. “‘Choose You’ is a global campaign co-created with patient associations around the world to give people living with HIV the information tools to consciously take a path to improving their quality of life and building a future of health and well-being,” the note concludes.
