‘Dirty sex disease’ is a stereotype that still exists around HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV). This keeps the cover on conversations and shames people from learning facts.
It’s important to disrupt this common feeling and to learn the facts about viruses, because sexual contact is not the only way you can come into contact with either of these viruses, and both have treatment options that support living a good life, even if you have the virus.
Often people who do screening checks are stigmatized with people around them saying (or thinking), ‘oh I wonder what they did so they need to get screened for HIV or hepatitis?’. To change this stigma we need to be connected, creative and correct the myths by sharing facts.
Serpent River First Nation held a round dance to celebrate life and bring positive awareness to HIV and hepatitis C in December 2023. In partnership with Anishinabek Nation HIV program and the GHC Hep Care program screening was offered at a table and the janitors closet in a corner of the gym using Point of Care approach which is a quick finger poke and then a drop of blood processed in a test kit, similar to a covid-19 test. At first people were skeptical, which is the normal feeling when stigma is in control. But as the evening wore on and people started to read the information resources shared (you can order resources here), talk to the friendly people at the screening station, and receive super cool prizes when completing screening, you could feel the stigma shift. Instead of ‘what did you do that you need to go get screened?’, it became ‘hey why haven’t you gone over there to get screened, its quick and doesn’t hurt much and its important to know cause you can cure it.’
It was powerful to feel the energy in the room shift, stigma was flipped upside down. This is how we change the story to wellness. Connect, create change, correct the myths.
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