BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters) — Prince Harry and music superstar Rihanna took HIV tests in Barbados on Thursday (December 1) as part of a campaign to demonstrate the test’s simplicity and encourage others to take the tests.
“No one nowhere, as far as I was aware, have made people aware of how far that medicine has come. It’s one thing doing it but then you’ve got to tell everyone, guys guess what, you can now have a pin prick in your thumb that can take less than five minutes, less than 20 minutes, to get your test results right there and then. You can get it sent to home so no one even knows about it. And you can have medication if you get tested, if you are positive and you catch it soon enough, you can take medication for the rest of your life and have a completely normal life with your loved ones, with your family and if you choose to not let anyone know, then no one needs to know. That is the message that has been missing and that’s a conversation that we had last night and Rihanna was just like I can’t believe it’s that easy,” the prince said.
“I couldn’t believe it. And I can’t believe I didn’t know. I think there are so many people who don’t know as well. I feel like if people knew how easy it was to get tested, and how quick you get your results back and how discreet it could be and how important it is know because even if you are positive there’s so much that could be done and the sooner the better. I don’t think people are aware of how much progress has been made with the fight against HIV and AIDS and the more we get the word out there I think the better,” Rihanna added.
Each year, people across countries gather on Dec. 1 to promote awareness about the fight against HIV/AIDS and remember those who lost their lives.
The hashtag #WorldAIDSDay trended on Twitter as users posted messages and pictures of red ribbons supporters wear to mark the occasion, as well as of people around the world lighting candles for commemoration events.
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), some 36.7 million people around the world were living with HIV last year.
