Premium Content:

Cipri Martinez heads up NAPWHA

Cipri Martinez 1 (2)

Local HIV/AIDS advocate Cipriano Martinez has been elected president of the National Association of People Living with HIV Australia (NAPWHA). It’s the first time someone from Western Australia has held the role.  The state’s NAPWHA representatives are Paul Baines and Izaac Buckley

- Advertisement -

Speaking to OUTinPerth on World AIDS Day Martinez said stigma remained a big challenge for people living with HIV but the community was also excited about many new advances in treatments and research.

“Some of the big issues remain the same like reducing stigma” Martinez said, “but we also have the START trial that showed that it’s best to start treatments as soon as someone is diagnosed and we’re also very focused this year on making sure that PrEP treatment occurs in Australia.”

“We have lots of people who are in poz/neg relationships and partners that would really appreciate the opportunity to be on PrEP and being able to reduce their anxieties and have more confidences are in their lives.”

PrEP is a new treatment that allows HIV negative people to take a daily pill that dramatically reduces the chance of them contracting the virus.

Martinez said that while the LGBTIQ community had been learning a lot about PrEP there was still a challenge in getting all of society up to speed. Martinez praised the work of Lavina Crooks, President of the Australian Society of HIV Medicine for acknowledging that people with an undetectable viral load are not infectious.

“It is taking time for people to modernise their views around HIV, but it is 2015 and we know that pills not only work to assist people who positive to become non-infectious but for those people who are negative they can take some pills as well and they can protect themselves fully, and that’s an exciting time.” Martinez said.

“It means for the first time everyone has the capacity to end this epidemic together.”

Latest

On This Gay Day | In 1982 France stops listing homosexuality as a disorder

At the same time authorities equalised the age of consent.

‘Brigerton’ star Luke Newton to play famous gay fashion designer

He's signed up to star in a new play abut the life of Lee Alexander McQueen.

Jebediah will celebrate three decades with new tour

The tour is sure to be a huge party for the band's loyal fans.

At 20, Ari found himself one of many Australian youth experiencing homelessness

As the federal government looks at new ways of tackling homelessness, Ari shares his experiences.

Newsletter

Don't miss

On This Gay Day | In 1982 France stops listing homosexuality as a disorder

At the same time authorities equalised the age of consent.

‘Brigerton’ star Luke Newton to play famous gay fashion designer

He's signed up to star in a new play abut the life of Lee Alexander McQueen.

Jebediah will celebrate three decades with new tour

The tour is sure to be a huge party for the band's loyal fans.

At 20, Ari found himself one of many Australian youth experiencing homelessness

As the federal government looks at new ways of tackling homelessness, Ari shares his experiences.

Musician Ethel Cain issues an apology as historical racist posts surface

The singer took to Instagram to offer an apology and explanation.

On This Gay Day | In 1982 France stops listing homosexuality as a disorder

At the same time authorities equalised the age of consent.

‘Brigerton’ star Luke Newton to play famous gay fashion designer

He's signed up to star in a new play abut the life of Lee Alexander McQueen.

Jebediah will celebrate three decades with new tour

The tour is sure to be a huge party for the band's loyal fans.