'People are still afraid of those three letters': Fighting the stigma of HIV

Former rugby star Gareth Thomas, who is HIV positive, spoke out about the ongoing isolation and discrimination tied to the virus at the International AIDS Conference held in Rio this year.

Highlighting that fear of the condition persists, Thomas stated, 'People are still afraid of those three letters,' drawing attention to the social stigma that continues to affect individuals living with HIV.

The conference provided a platform to address these persistent social barriers and emphasized the ongoing global effort required to combat the stigma associated with the diagnosis.