{"id":464162,"date":"2025-12-18T14:52:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:52:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=464162"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:52:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:52:29","slug":"documentary-featuring-three-hiv-survivors-from-south-london-aims-to-encourage-more-people-to-take-a-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/documentary-featuring-three-hiv-survivors-from-south-london-aims-to-encourage-more-people-to-take-a-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Documentary featuring three HIV survivors from South London aims to encourage more people to take a test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>A film showing local people living with HIV has been produced by King&#8217;s College Hospital, featuring the story of  a woman who found out she was positive when she fell pregnant and a man who was born with the diagnoses, <em>writes Frankie Hills&#8230; <\/em>  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three south Londoners share their personal stories through the new film released by King\u2019s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, with the aim to tackling the stigma around HIV Diagnoses. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDkKr1blgqCQ&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cfrancis.hills%40kcl.ac.uk%7C8ba4a7e74dec441716e208de3e432a55%7C8370cf1416f34c16b83c724071654356%7C0%7C0%7C639016655362866574%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=v0LXKCw%2BZ1N7jCyZMX%2B84ayALjyiAdXhmXx%2FHTXSdpw%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Changing Landscape: from uncertainty to acceptance<\/a><\/em>\u00a0is a short documentary that features the experiences of Ralph-Lewis from Lewisham, Margaret Wereber from Southwark and Brixton resident Joe Foulsham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The film is intended to be used as an educational tool in local settings and was produced by King\u2019s, with funding being provided by Gilead Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ralph-Lewis\u2019 story focuses on his experience being living with HIV since birth. In the film, he explains the impacts this had on his mental health, and the ensuing support he has received through NHS services that has shaped his journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking about what he hopes the film will achieve he said \u201cIf it helps just one person who is struggling, then we\u2019ve achieved something amazing. I was born with a positive status, but this illness has never defined me, and will never define me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The film also explores the experiences of Southwark resident Margaret, whose ordeal started 20 years ago, discovering she was HIV positive during a routine pregnancy appointment at King\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"j0w3bE1peUALs7Y8Q4CqiFl5yOd\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"TPNPqhX9uF\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/haematology-care-will-be-moved-from-orpington-to-kings-college-hospital-despite-27000-petition\/\">Haematology care will be moved from Orpington to King&#8217;s College Hospital despite 27,000 petition<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Haematology care will be moved from Orpington to King&#8217;s College Hospital despite 27,000 petition&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/haematology-care-will-be-moved-from-orpington-to-kings-college-hospital-despite-27000-petition\/embed\/#?secret=wNKphwAOca#?secret=TPNPqhX9uF\" data-secret=\"TPNPqhX9uF\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>She highlighted the importance of early testing and treatment, stating \u201cI am so grateful I had that test and was able to start treatment. I would encourage anyone to get an HIV test\u201d. Her tale of endurance has allowed her to go on to have two healthy, HIV-negative children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret\u2019s hopes for the film are that it will provide crucial insights and awareness, saying \u201cStigma is still around, but it just shows a lack of understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEducation is the best way to raise awareness: if we don\u2019t speak up about HIV, who will?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The final story the film features is that of Joe, who now works as a peer-mentor, supporting his fellow patients regarding their diagnosis at King\u2019s Caldecot Centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joe\u2019s hopes for the film are that it \u201ceducates, informs, and above all provides hope. Speaking further, he said: \u201cFor me, realising I had HIV was the beginning of a new chapter in my life, and it has brought me stability. A positive diagnosis of HIV is by no means the end: I see a really good, long, prosperous life ahead of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hayley Cheetham, Senior Charge Nurse for Sexual Health and HIV at King\u2019s, praised the three contributors for speaking so transparently about their experiences. \u201cThey have taken huge steps in challenging people\u2019s perceptions around the illness,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs the film shows, people with HIV can thrive with the right support and treatment, leading long and healthy lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cheetham continued by detailing the Trust\u2019s plans to screen the film to teach staff and volunteers about changing perceptions around the disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, there are plans to distribute it across schools, community organisations, faith groups and GP services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHopefully the film will help change the language around HIV and encourage more people to take a test and find out their status,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"aHtQiw5XhBGbPpm29RF6M\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kUZXWCHTgT\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/research-found-significant-variations-in-the-rate-of-hiv-diagnoses-between-different-boroughs\/\">Research found significant variations in the rate of HIV diagnoses between different boroughs<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Research found significant variations in the rate of HIV diagnoses between different boroughs&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/london\/research-found-significant-variations-in-the-rate-of-hiv-diagnoses-between-different-boroughs\/embed\/#?secret=TJcKweGCA7#?secret=kUZXWCHTgT\" data-secret=\"kUZXWCHTgT\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A film showing local people living with HIV has been produced by King&#8217;s College Hospital, featuring the story of a woman who found out she was positive when she fell pregnant and a man who was born with the diagnoses, writes Frankie Hills&#8230; Three south Londoners share their personal stories through the new film released [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18930,"featured_media":464396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"It aims to raise awareness and encourage more people to take a test"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"42"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,7375,13602,9635],"tags":[18087,148,18186],"class_list":["post-464162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camberwell","category-community","category-news","category-south-london","tag-camberwell","tag-kings-college-hospital","tag-update-me"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=464162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/464396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=464162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=464162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=464162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}