Carla Simón and Bonaventura Clotet: a different perspective, when AIDS touches you closely

That’s why, on World AIDS Day, 1 December, the Foundation for the Fight Against Infections wants to offer a different perspective on this infection: that of those who do not have the virus but have lived very close to it.

On one hand, filmmaker Carla Simón, who experienced it as the daughter of parents affected by AIDS and addresses this subject in her work. On the other, Dr Bonaventura Clotet, a leading figure and pioneer in the field of HIV. A meeting that brings together two key people in the collective imagination of HIV – without whom it would be hard to understand the infection today.

THE FULL CONVERSATION

During the conversation, Carla Simón shared her first memory of AIDS: “the first time I heard about AIDS was at school”. When her adoptive parents explained the family reality, she thought: “the first thing that crossed my mind was maybe I’m ill with something”.

Another central theme was stigma. Despite progress, there are still prejudices that affect people living with HIV. “I think stigma still exists, except among certain elites with a lot of education and knowledge who understand that they cannot transmit the disease, they cannot become infected, but there is still the risk of being rejected if it becomes known that you have HIV,” explained Dr Clotet. “AIDS has advanced at an incredible speed scientifically, but socially it has been left completely behind,” added Carla.

That’s why Dr Clotet said: “What new generations need is information, knowledge – to know what it was, what it can be and that it can be contracted.” Carla also highlighted the importance of testing: “Testing is accessible to everyone and very easy. If everyone who has HIV really knew, they would be undetectable.”