Working with METRO to support the HIV community in south east London
This week Kuba Krzyzynski, an HIV ambassador for the Terrence Higgins Trust and a HIV Peer Support Manager at METRO, shared great insights at November’s NHS South East London all-staff briefing. Kuba highlighted the work being done to support people living with HIV in south east London, particularly in Lambeth and Southwark – boroughs with the highest prevalence in England. NHS South East London, METRO, and the Terrence Higgins Trust are all part of the Fast-Track Cities initiative, which aims to end new HIV infections in London by 2030.
Kuba works with people living with HIV in south London, including Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. His connection to METRO began eight years ago, when he was diagnosed with HIV during a visit to the clinic. He was offered peer support by a METRO employee, which inspired him to start volunteering with the charity. Today, Kuba manages peer support programmes, helping others navigate life with HIV.
How METRO supports people living with HIV
A significant part of Kuba’s work with METRO is organising one-to-one peer mentorship to people living with HIV (PLHIV): helping people adjust to their HIV diagnosis, manage day-to-day challenges, or any other issues – particularly support with taking their medication, complementing other local programmes to engage PLHIV and get them into or back into care. METRO also runs a workshop every three months for newly diagnosed individuals, in partnership with other HIV organisations. The workshop usually runs on a weekend and is delivered by people with lived experience of HIV.
METRO also provides group support for persons living with HIV to meet others in similar situations. These include one for gay and bisexual men, one for mothers with small children, and one for LGBTQ+ migrant men. Kuba facilitates the LGBTQ+ migrant group, which supports many asylum seekers and refugees dealing with trauma and the challenges of settling in the UK. The group provides links to essential services like counselling and housing support.
To reach the Fast-Track Cities goal of ending new HIV infections in London in the next 5 years, Kuba highlighted key areas to address:
- overcoming language barriers
- increasing testing among minority ethnic and migrant communities
- tackling the rise in diagnoses among heterosexual people
- ensuring equitable access to PReP
- reducing the stigma around HIV.
World AIDS Day, marked every year on 1 December, is a time to raise awareness of HIV, reflect on progress made in treatment and prevention, and support those living with HIV. By working with partners like METRO in the Integrated Care System, we can work towards a future free of new HIV infections.