Prince Harry.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE
Speaking with Thomas, who created theTackle HIVcampaign, over video chat from the California home he shares with wifeMeghan Markleand their two children, the Duke of Sussex opened up about continuing to advocate for HIV awareness — 35 years after his motherPrincess Dianaopened the U.K.’s first HIV/AIDS unit at London’s Middlesex Hospital, a space that would exclusively care for patients with the virus.
“What my mom did, and what so many other people did at that time, was to smash that wall down. To kick the door open and say, ‘No. When people are suffering, then we need to learn more, and if there’s a stigma that’s playing such a large part of it, then what we really need to do is talk about it more,’ " Harry said. “That kind of made people feel a little bit uncomfortable to start with. But stigma thrives on silence. We know that.”
He added, “What my mom started all those years ago was creating empathy and understanding…but also curiosity, which I think was really powerful.”
Princess Diana.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Prince Harrysaid most people had a “blissful ignorance” towards the illness because they don’t believe they are at risk for contracting it. He went on to say that although he knew he wasn’t in a risk group, he hoped getting tested would help others feel more comfortable in finding out their own status.
“Every single one of us has a duty, or at least an opportunity, to get tested ourselves to make it easier for everybody else to get tested,” he said. “It will undoubtedly save a life or, at the very least, encourage someone who is living in fear to come forward and get to know their own status, which in turn will save a life.”
Thomas has made it his mission to educate people about HIV and correct the myths that exist around it to break the stigma that surrounds the virus.
“We need to eradicate the stigma and the misunderstanding around it,” Thomas said. “It wouldn’t be scary if you understood what living with HIV in 2022 is.”
He also thankedPrince Harryfor his longstanding advocacy: “Having advocates, having allies, when this can be such an isolating, lonely virus to live with, is sometimes enough. It’s sometimes the difference between getting tested and not getting tested. It’s sometimes, sadly, the difference between life and death. So, I as somebody who lives with HIV has the ability to have the platform to say thank you for everything you’ve done.”
As part of his advocacy work, Harry underwent HIV tests alongside singerRihannaduring a2016 visitto her native Barbados.
“I was so excited to find out that it was so easy, and the results come back that quickly —you can find out literally on the spot, your status, and it’s very discreet,” Rihanna said at the time.
Rihanna and Prince Harry.Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images
After his outing with Rihanna, Harry said, “The younger generation coming through want to talk about it, but there’s still that stigma. If us getting testing normalizes it and makes a difference, even a small difference, then job well done.”
Prince Harrypreviouslyhelped highlight the need for more understanding about HIVwith Thomas in 2019.
Thomas told PEOPLE at the time: “[Harry] knows the stigma that’s out there, he knows the fear of people not wanting to be tested because they’re so afraid of what they don’t know, and he understands the lack of education out there. So to stand up and actually take a test himself is a real sign of bravery, and a real sign of somebody who doesn’t want to just communicate to certain people, he wants to communicate to everybody.”
Thomas launched Tackle HIV alongside ViiV Healthcare in 2020 to educate people about HIV and correct the myths that exist around it to break the stigma that surrounds the virus.
“We need to eradicate the stigma and the misunderstanding around it,” he said. “It wouldn’t be scary if you understood what living with HIV in 2022 is.”
source: people.com
