A free book aimed at destigmatising HIV and helping children understand their diagnosis has been launched.<\/p>\n
Illustrated by Jasmine Thompson<\/a> and written by Katie Warburton, Grace, Gigi and HIV from Bristol charity Chiva, is now available in HIV centres nationwide.<\/p>\n Thompson said it was an “exciting” project that had “meaning and purpose” and hopes it makes children from all backgrounds feel represented.<\/p>\n Chiva CEO Amanda Ely said HIV is a life-long condition that “many children fear talking about” and “misunderstand” due to “misinformation and taboo” and hoped the book will inspire important conversations.<\/p>\n More from Bristol<\/p>\n HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a blood-borne virus that attacks the body’s immune system. There is no cure for it, but people can live long lives with treatment.<\/p>\n In the UK, most children and young people living with HIV had it passed on from their mother, according to the NHS<\/a>.<\/p>\n The children’s book follows a girl called Grace who has HIV, her family and her parakeet Gigi.<\/p>\n Thompson said they decided it was important to represent a mixed heritage dynamic in the book and to show that families that have a child with HIV in them “can look different”.<\/p>\n “Also the siblings in the book – one of them is HIV positive and one isn’t,” she said.<\/p>\n “I hope it helps destigmatise and change the perspective on how people think life looks with HIV.”<\/p>\n Thompson said it was an “exciting opportunity to create something with meaning and purpose”.<\/p>\n Warburton, who is also a children’s nurse and a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, said the story was inspired by experiences shared by parents and children.<\/p>\n “It was always important to us that children and parents were part of co-creating this book,” she said.<\/p>\n “The story touches on some of the areas that could be challenging for children when living with a chronic condition, like having to leave school for hospital appointments and having blood tests.<\/p>\n “We also added messages from other children living with HIV in the back of the book.”<\/p>\n Ely said the book is part of the charity’s mission to help “young people of any age” understand their HIV better.<\/p>\n “We know that lots of children misunderstand what HIV means because of misinformation that still circulates,” she said.<\/p>\n “We’re hoping children can connect with Grace’s story and feel like, ‘That’s a bit like what I go through’.”<\/p>\n Physical copies can be obtained from the charity or HIV treatment centres, with digital copies released in May.<\/p>\n Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630<\/a>.<\/p>\n More on this storyRelated internet links