In our own time

“Talking about HIV and sharing our status with others is a huge challenge for young people living with HIV. Stigma and negative attitudes of others make it hard to be open and talk about our lives, whether we were born with HIV or acquired it though other ways at a later stage. There has been so much progress in the treatment of HIV that helps us to live longer and healthier lives, but little progress in addressing the stigma and discrimination that creates the isolation and rejection we experience. There is still so much to do in supporting us to learn about our HIV status, to be able to talk to others, and to share our HIV status with friends and partners. There is also so much to do to end the stigma that surrounds HIV.”

READY+ has been exploring why support to young people for HIV disclosure continues to be such a neglected area and organised workshops with adolescents, peer supporters, health professionals, parents and caregivers in Zimbabwe and eSwatini to inform this brief.