I have been living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) for 38 years, and have had an undetectable viral load (less than 40 copies/mL) since 1998. Both of these facts are possible because of activism, community care, and HIV medications.
BC has been my home for 28 years. I chose to live here because this province, and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), has led the charge in HIV treatment innovation throughout the epidemic: the development of HIV triple-drug combination therapy called “highly active antiretroviral therapy” (HAART), and for developing the Treatment as Prevention® Strategy (TasP®), which has linked patients to care, treatment and prevention. Working together with numerous community organizations, the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS has saved the lives of thousands of HIV-positive people and reduced new HIV infections.