A New Zealand man is featured on an international list of HIV advocates to watch in 2016. NZAF Community Engagement Officer, Charlie Tredway is featured on the annual list, released by the award-winning blogger of MyFabulousDisease.com, Mark S. King. The HIV advocate says increasing his visibility as a person living with HIV is an important tool in combating stigma. “I’ve had people using my positive status as a weapon against me and been abused online and felt undateable,” he says. “Since going public it has weeded out the ignorant. I think that the only way to combat that stigma is through honesty and making HIV personal and visible.” “Since being involved in public campaigns for stigma, I have noticed a change in how people respond to me as an HIV positive man. I think that has to do with authenticity and a refusal to be ashamed of being positive.” Without a proper follow up after his diagnosis, Tredway says he wasn't engaged in any services or support or linked into adequate care, “I just completely dropped the ball because I felt healthy. I felt that I could get away with living frivolously and being an addict and that there wouldn't be any repercussions for years to come.” He says New Zealand’s policy of not treating HIV patients until their t-cell count falls below 500 may have kept him from care for too long. “It is stupidity of the highest order.” “Not only does it go against World Health Organisation recommendations, it also takes away the HIV positive person's right to take ownership of their health and start treatment.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 13th January 2016 - 10:11am