The group started on the 13th of September 2007 after a Wales HIV Network meeting in Cardiff.
Eight HIV+ people attended the Positive Participation Group meeting before the main Network commenced. During the group discussion we realised that although there were a few organisations in Wales, who worked within certain geographical areas, there was an absence of a Wales wide group for HIV+ people to unite and communicate with each other.
Another aim of this group is to provide a safety net for isolated people who feel the need for peer support. Not everyone has access to a drop in centre due to distance or transport problems. An online community could play a large part in helping their mental stability.
After over 25 years of the HIV AIDS virus being known about, there are a lot of long term positive people out there with a good understanding of what it is like to live with the virus 24/7. These people are often referred to as “Expert Patients” due their great understanding of health, medication, nutrition and public health service providers.
HIV Cymru Wales wishes to maximise on that shared knowledge to benefit others. This is a great opportunity to form a supportive social network and discuss issues that concern us as positive people.
There are many things happening in the field of HIV here in Wales but often they go unnoticed as they could be happening in some parts of Wales but not others. Our aim is to communicate and empower people to seek the best treatments and services available.
Self-help will always be best.