It Starts With Me is a national campaign from HIV Prevention England (HPE), a partnership of community organisations headed by Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and funded by the Department of Health, to carry out national HIV prevention work in England among communities at an increased risk of infection.
It aims to cut new infections though condom promotion and the reduction of undiagnosed HIV infection through increased testing. The campaign features real people, like Steve, a 30 year old flight attendant, sharing their personal stories on HIV and will appear across England on billboards, public transport, social media and in the press. Explaining his motivations for getting involved, Steve says, “I always try and encourage my friends to get tested, and I get tested regularly, every couple of months.
It’s just about having that piece of mind, and it’s really important that we all know our status and take steps to take care of ourselves. One guy I dated had HIV, and I didn’t really know much about the facts – I didn’t know what undetected meant, and I thought it could be transmitted through simple casual contact. I want to help others understand that protecting ourselves and knowing the facts about HIV is important for all of us. I feel passionate and feel I have a responsibility to share this information.”
The campaign aims to show that HIV is not something to be feared, but it is something each of us can control in our own lives through regular HIV testing and using condoms. “I’m here to share my story and say, yes – It Starts With Me. It starts with you – you as an individual. It starts with your brother, sister, whoever. I’m passionate about this programme and campaign, and we all have a part to play. A small change can make a huge difference.” Steve added.
Cary James from THT said, “We are grateful for the contributions of people like Steve in the efforts to stop HIV in the UK as they help us a long way in motivating people to take control of their health when it comes to HIV. All of us can do something however small. It can be testing, using condoms or sharing correct information about HIV with others.
•To stop HIV, it starts with each one of us.” Gay and bisexual men are invited to sign up to It Starts With Me by visiting www.startswithme.org.uk. You can also join the conversation on social media at www.facebook.com/startswithme and Twitter feed at @startswith_me.
You can find out more about the It Starts With Me campaign and what you can do to help stop HIV in the U.K. at www.startswithme.org.uk.
