Letters: No monopoly on grief over Aids
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: John Lyttle (27 September) portrays "Aids professionals" as "medical staff who care for those with HIV" and "activists". This is a false divide, undermining some of the hard-hitting comments which rightly follow.
Those who provide support for people with HIV should always learn from their experience, so as to develop policies and practices that tackle the discrimination surrounding HIV and improve the quality of life for people with HIV - and for people generally in need of health and social care.
In the same way, those who raise the issues of policy development - challenging homophobia, improving confidentiality, establishing appropriate systems of funding and, in passing, raising models of health care not reliant on the Western model alone - should do so in such a way as to involve and benefit people living with HIV now.
Neither category has a monopoly on grief. Neither has the right to possess people or the issue. But both activism and care are necessary.
JOHN NICHOLSON
Director
George House Trust
Manchester
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments