World AIDS Day 2017 is less than two weeks away so we’ve put together some of the events that are taking place around Ireland this year to mark the occasion.

This has been a breakthrough year for HIV prevention in Ireland with the widespread scientific backing of U=U, the “imminent” availability of generic Truvada, and the launch of Ireland’s first ever PrEP monitoring clinic in GMHS.

However, there is always more work to be done, and that’s where World AIDS Day comes in to help battle HIV stigma and continue to raise awareness around HIV treatment and prevention in Ireland and further afield.

Let’s End It

This year, the theme of the UK’s World AIDS Day campaign is ‘Let’s End It’, which seeks to put an end to isolation, stigma and transmission. The World AIDS Day website shares some more info on the campaign:

“End isolation. End stigma. End HIV transmission. You’ve helped us fight HIV. Now, let’s end it. This  World AIDS Day join the fight to end the negative impact of HIV.

“This year in the UK there have been the first significant reductions in HIV diagnoses for gay men in London, thanks to frequent testing, rapid treatment and PrEP. Let’s grow this success so that it includes everybody at risk, across the UK.

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“But our fight is not just about the virus. For the more than 100,000 people living with HIV in the UK, ignorance and discrimination can still limit opportunities, preventing them from living full and happy lives. HIV means you are more likely to live in poverty, and more likely to have poor mental health.

“This is an exciting turning point. But we need a new burst of energy to end stigma, end HIV transmission and end the isolation experienced by people living with HIV, for good.”

7. Over 100,000 people in the UK live with HIV. The stigma and discrimination they face must end #letsendit pic.twitter.com/877aoKB1CY

— Joey ? (@JoeyKnock) November 14, 2017

The campaign page also encourages people to share images alongside the hashtag #LetsEndIt to help spread the messages aimed at ending isolation, HIV stigma and HIV transmission.

Happenings In Ireland

Last year, the HSE partnered with sexual health organisations to provide free Rapid HIV testing across the country. This year something similar is likely to take place, with more information available at KnowNow.ie closer to December 1.

There are also a number of other events and launches happening around Ireland this year to mark the occasion.

Here are some of the things lined up for World AIDS Day 2017.

Breakout Research – Rethinking HIV/AIDS

Come along to take part and learn more about the conversation about HIV/AIDS: listen, debate and engage with UCD researchers in English, History and Medicine leading brief talks followed by plenty of group discussion.

Speaking at the event in Dun Laoghaire’s LexIcon Library will be James Grannell (UCD School of History), Dr Cormac O’Brien (UCD School of English, Drama and Film) and Dr Paddy Mallon (Mater Misericordiae University Hospital) who appeared on Prime Time: The End of HIV? earlier this year.

Rethinking HIV/AIDS will take place on Tuesday November 28 at 6:30pm.

More info: [email protected]

HIV & Ageing

To mark 30 years of supporting people living with HIV, AIDS West would like to invite you to a conference looking at ‘HIV & Ageing’.

This conference is appropriate for people living with HIV and their families/friends, GPs, Nurses and all frontline healthcare staff and sexual health staff who work with and support people living with HIV.

In addition: researchers, community organisations, drug services, counselling services, policy makers and commissioners, community leaders, community advocates and others with a strong professional interest in HIV & Ageing are welcome to attend.

This conference is on December 1 from 9:30am – 4pm in The Ardilaun Hotel, Taylor’s Hill, Galway.

Attendance is free – to book a place please visit Eventbrite, call 091 566266 or email [email protected]

HIV & Sexual Health

Act Up Dublin’s Andrew Leavitt and Robbie Lawlor will be joining GCN founder and AIDS activist Tonie Walsh, Olivia Corbett, Síona Cahill and Terrie Colman-Black for a discussion this Thursday, November 30.

The talk is being run in association with Act Up Dublin, Media Studies at Maynooth, Maynooth University and USI, the Union of Students Ireland.

The event will take place at 7pm on Thursday November 30 in Iontas Theatre, with entry to the panel discussion free of charge.

MAN2MAN X 4

Just in time for World AIDS Day 2017, the HSE and Gay Health Network (GHN) are launching the Man2Man.ie website in an additional three languages – French, Portuguese and Spanish – to supplement the information they already provide in English.

This is the first active multi-lingual information website of its kind in the world aimed at men who have sex with men and as such it recognises the diversity within Ireland and the LGBT community.

Man2man.ie has comprehensive information sections on HIV (Positive and Negative), STI’s, Safer Sex, PEP, PrEP, Drugs and Alcohol, Free Testing and Condoms and more.

It also acts as a resource for individuals, groups and agencies, providing downloadable documents for each section and in the relevant language.