Addressing the stigmas around HIV
Description
For World AIDS Day, Richie Brave sits down with Dr Nneka Nwokolo, one of the UK’s leading HIV physicians. She has spent years working in sexual health, HIV treatment and prevention, helping shape national conversations around equitable healthcare. He's also joined in the studio by Reverend Jide, a black gay priest within the Church of England and an openly HIV-positive advocate. He is also the founder of House of Rainbow, a faith-based organisation supporting LGBTQIA+ people.
Dr Nneka discusses all the treatments available for HIV, the right terminology to use and how the scientific advancements mean getting HIV is no longer seen as a 'death sentence'. Reverend Jide shares his personal experience of first getting diagnosed, reckoning with the feelings of shame, navigating religious spaces as a gay man and ultimately landing firm in his identity as a 'Happy, Holy Homosexual'.
Lastly, with winter upon us and the drops in temperature continuing, these weather conditions could significantly impact people living with Sickle Cell. So with that in mind, Richie sits down with Marsha Howe, a powerful advocate for sickle cell awareness, who lives with it herself. She shares what life has been like navigating this disease, from day-to-day life, to pregnancy, motherhood and beyond. She also shares just how important blood donation is to her.
Produced by Unedited for BBC Radio 1Xtra.



