Today is World AIDS Day – 1st December 2025.
This annual campaign is a time to remember those we have lost to HIV and for communities to take a pledge to support those living with the condition.
- People living with HIV today can lead full, active lives thanks to advances in medicine and treatments.
- Modern effective treatments mean that people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives and not pass HIV on to someone else.
- Effective treatment means that the virus becomes “undetectable” in that individual; this is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U. Find out the facts here: Stigma is more harmful than HIV
- The stigma around HIV means that people living with it often feel isolated and alone. The stigma and discrimination can more harmful than HIV itself.
- What we say, how we act and the care and compassion we show for someone really makes a difference to how they feel.
- Late diagnosis of HIV can increase morbidity and mortality.
- Are you a clinician?
- Would you know how to recognise and/or diagnose HIV?
- HIV Informed is a brand new free online learning hub for Scotland’s health and social care workforce, developed with NHS Scotland, people living with HIV, and funded by the Scottish Government.
- HIV Informed provides videos, stories, and learning resources to help professionals deliver inclusive, stigma-free care.
Anyone who thinks they might have HIV or requests a test should be offered one. See information on NHS Inform on testing HIV | NHS Inform. Tests can be requested through Sexual Health Service or via Primary Care. Individuals can book a test at Sexual Health Service through an online booking system available here: Sexual Health Service – NHS Shetland. Home testing kits can be sent out, a request for this can be emailed to Sexual Health Service at: shet.sexualhealth@nhs.scot
Across Scotland, free self-testing at home kits can be requested through the Terrence Higgins Trust – Self testing from Terrence Higgins Trust. Testing for HIV as well as other blood borne viruses is available to patients attending Substance Support and Recovery Service and access to testing can also be arranged via Shetland Recovery Hub & Community Network.
Preventative treatment, or, HIV PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a medication that can be prescribed to reduce the risk of HIV infection; this is available on prescription from Sexual Health Clinic. PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) is a treatment that can stop the virus taking hold when a person has been exposed. This is available from A&E and should be taken as soon after the exposure as possible.
Lerwick Town Hall will be lit up Red on Monday 1st December 2025 to mark the occasion of World Aids Day.
We would encourage everyone to take a moment, take the pledge and help stamp out the stigma of HIV.
