I'm Healthy

Every human being has a fundamental right of the highest attainable standard of health. The right to health must be enjoyed without discrimination on the grounds of race, age, ethnicity or HIV status.

When living with HIV you can stay healthy and have a good quality of life by engaging with effective treatment. Medication continues to improve but at the moment there is no cure for HIV.

HIV Basics | Disclosure | HIV+ Peer Navigation | Undetectable | Helpful Publications

Quicklinks:

• Starting Treatment
• How much does treatment cost?
• Treatment Options
• Adherence
• Working with your HIV Care Team
• Having a child

• Starting Treatment
• How much does treatment cost?
• Treatment Options
• Adherence
• Working with your HIV Care Team
• Having a child
• Staying Healthy
• Smoking
• Mental Health
• How do I access healthcare?
• Healthcare for non-residents
• Media Downloads

• Staying Healthy
• Smoking
• Mental Health
• How do I access healthcare?
• Healthcare for non-residents
• Media Downloads

Important steps to stay healthy include:

Educate yourself and ask questions
Get on treatment and take it as prescribed
Have regular check-ups with your whole care team.
Talk honestly with your health care providers (it's confidential and they can support you)

Starting Treatment

Treatment is recommended for everyone as soon after being diagnosed with HIV. Guidelines recommend that you start treatment as soon as possible to control the virus. The question of ‘when to start’ will depend on your readiness, which includes both a desire to maximise your health and reduce your infectiousness.

There are several issues to consider when starting treatment including being ready emotionally as well as physically as it is a life-long commitment.

HIV treatments:

Reduce the amount of HIV in your bodyYou will feel better and it will take longer for you to become sick. Treatment is now recommended for all people with HIV, irrespective of CD4 count, to reduce the risk of disease progression.
Lowers the amount of HIV in your body, often to an undetectable levelThis means you will not pass HIV on to someone else.
Show More

May cause side-effectsThese are usually manageable and short term while your body gets used to the medication. Some people experience no side-effects at all. More serious or long-term side-effects are less common. If you notice any symptoms it is important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Many persistent side-effects can be reduced by medication. Do not stop treatment without talking to your doctor beforehand as doing so can have harmful consequences.
Work well, but you need to take your treatment exactly as your doctor tells youThis is known as treatment adherence. Treatment adherence is vital or the drugs will become less effective, even if you start taking them regularly again. You will need to think how to store your drugs, how to fit them in around meals if required, and travelling.
Are a lifelong commitmentOnce you start treatment, you should keep taking it. You should not stop because HIV can become ‘resistant’ to treatment – meaning the HIV treatments won’t work properly when you start taking them again. Stopping can cause significant deterioration in your health.
Show More

How much does treatment cost?

Specialist visits are provided at no cost and are provided at hospitals and sexual health clinics.

All HIV medication in New Zealand is publicly funded for everyone and available from community pharmacies – they usually need 24 hours to get the medicine into stock. A $5 dispensing fee may be charged upon collecting the prescribed medication. The amount of prescription fees charged per year is capped to a maximum of twenty prescriptions. People on low incomes or government financial support receive a Community Services Card which lowers the maximum prescription fee per year as well.

General practice doctor fees are usually reduced if you enrol with that clinic as your primary provider as compared to being a casual patient. These fees are capped at $19.50 per visit to people with a Community Services Card. Body Positive provide the Positive Health Scheme which may assist with medical expenses (GP Visits and Pharmacy fees).

All blood test and other medical services and prescriptions directly related to HIV care are provided free of charge through the Public Hospital System and the I.D. departments/Sexual Health Clinics.

Treatment Options

HIV treatment needs to be approved by Medsafe before it can be made available in New Zealand. Once Medsafe has approved it, Pharmac may fund some medications for public use. Your provider will work with international guidelines to provide the treatment that will work best for you.

Not all HIV treatment regimens are available in NZ. A list of the medications available and their funding status can be found here.

Currently there is only one single pill regimen available in NZ. If you are relocating from overseas you may find you need to change regimens, this will often be a matter of going from a single pill to a multi pill dose of the same medications. In some instances you may need to change to a new regimen.

Discussing which treatment you are currently taking and why with your HIV team will help them find the best medication for you available in NZ. Access to non-funded medication can sometimes be arranged so ask questions if your current treatment option isn’t available. Changing medication does not necessarily mean your health is at risk or that the available medication isn’t as effective. It may just be a matter of a similar drug from a different manufacturer.

Adherence

It’s important to take your medication as prescribed. This includes the amount (number of pills) and timing. Follow any other directions such as with or without food and be aware of any possible complications such as potential interactions with food or other medications.

Using medication adherence strategies like pill boxes, blister packs or drug apps are ways to overcome any challenges you may have keeping up with your medicine and appointments. You can practice before you start with a candy to get you used to the routine. Perhaps link pills with a daily activity – like breakfast.

Keep spare doses available in case of emergencies. Including when travelling. If you find it difficult to take your medication on time speak with your health care team to see what can be done to make it easier.

Working with your HIV Care Team

Your healthcare team has the expertise and knowledge to help you stay healthy. Use their skills to your benefit by maintaining a good relationship with them. Your information is confidential so its okay to share information. You should feel safe, comfortable and respected working with your team. They are your supports to stay healthy.

Stay healthy by understanding your HIV treatment plan; how many pills of each medicine you should take; when to take each medicine; how to take each medicine (with or without food); and how to store medicine (avoid high temperatures).

Stay in control by asking about possible side effects from your HIV medication and what you should do if you experience them.

Use your GP or other health services that can help you manage anything which may affect your overall health like mental health or addiction. Include things like housing, food assistance or any other resources you might need to maintain good overall health.

By asking questions you will understand your blood tests, CD4 counts and viral load and how they indicate your health status as well as understanding any other medical conditions you may have. These may be adversely affected by HIV. Being actively involved in your treatment means living a healthier life.

Anything you discuss with all members of your Healthcare Team, including your HIV status is completely confidential. Privacy restrictions are in place preventing unauthorised access to your health records. If you feel your privacy has been compromised there are processes available to investigate any concerns you may have.

POZQOL - The PozQoL Scale is a brief quality of life scale that helps service providers improve care quality and health outcomes for people with HIV. Taking part helps people with HIV shape the type and extent of care available to maintain the best possibly quality of life.

HIV treatment works by stopping the virus reproducing and suppresses the viral load to an undetectable level. Suppressing the virus maintains your immune system and keeps you healthy. In terms of preventing HIV transmission undetectable is defined as anything less than 200 copies/ml. When the viral load is <200 copies/ml there is a zero risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners.

Having a child

Having children can raise questions for people living with HIV. The origins of the U=U movement came from fertility clinics and identified that when undetectable there is zero risk of transmission of HIV through sex. If someone cannot reach undetectable, strategies such as sperm washing and PrEP can facilitate having a child. In 2019, New Zealand launched Sperm Positive, the first ever sperm bank for HIV positive men to donate their sperm to have biological children with their partner or others wanting children.

Staying Healthy

Eating a balanced nutritional diet will help maintain a healthy weight. Combine with exercise will reduce risks of many health conditions. While watching your alcohol and recreational drug intake will make sure you have a good sleep, improve your overall mood and energy levels.

Smoking

Smoking, in itself, does not make HIV infection worse. However, smoking damages your heart and blood circulation, increasing your risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease, high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

One of the best things you can do for your health is to quit smoking. There are a number of programmes that are aimed at helping to quit smoking to improve your health.

Mental Health

Mental Health is an important part of staying healthy and concerns can arise from external and internal stigma, depression, anxiety to name some. Looking after your mental health can seem daunting but Body Positive has a really good guide to looking after yourself, linking in with other agencies for support and how to talk with your medical staff. More Information

How do I access healthcare?

Treatment in NZ is provided through the Infectious Diseases (ID) departments or Sexual Health Clinics at the Public Hospitals in each region. A referral can be made to the HIV team at any ID Department by a General Practice doctor, an HIV support organization or by contacting the I.D. department/clinic directly.

Treatment and Service Providers

Treatment for people with HIV in NZ is generally provided by regional health clinics and hospitals. Some are within the Infectious Disease departments, Sexual Health clinics or by registered General Practice doctors. Not all cities and towns in NZ have these facilities and not all facilities offer all services. Depending on your location you may need to travel to receive the care you need. This is particularly true for the South Island which has a smaller population spread over a large geographical area. Not all services are available at all locations, some are only available on a limited basis or infrequently. Telehealth appointments may be available to reduce the travel requirements once you have a relationship with the clinic.

North Island (North)

Northland Region has services provided by the Sexual Health clinic in Whangarei

Waitemata Region has services provided by the North Shore Hospital in Takapuna and Waitakari Hospital in Waitakari

Auckland Region has services in Auckland Hospital, Greenlane Sexual Health Clinic, Middlemore Hospital and Mangere Sexual Health Clinic

Counties Manukau has services at Manukau Hospital

North Island (Central)

Waikato Region has services at Hamilton Sexual Health Clinic

Bay of Plenty has services provided by the Tauranga Sexual Health Clinic

Hauora Tairawhiti Region has services provided at Gisbourne Sexual Health Clinic

Lakes Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Rotorua

Taranaki Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in New Plymouth

North Island (South)

Hawkes Bay Region has services provided by Napier Hospital and the Hastings Sexual Health Clinic

Whanganui Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Whanganui

Mid Central Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Palmerston North

Wairapa Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Wairoa

Hutt Valley Region has services provided by the Wellington Sexual Health clinics in Upper Hutt, Hutt Valley and Lower Hutt

Capital and Coast Region has services provided by Wellington Sexual Health Clinic in Wellington

South Island

Nelson Marlborough Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Nelson

West Coast Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Greymouth

Canterbury Region has services provided by the Sexual Health Clinic in Christchurch

South Canterbury Region has alternating clinic services provided through the South Canterbury Sexual Health in Temuka, Timaru, Twizel and Waimate once a week.

Southern Region has services provided by Dunedin Hospital and Sexual Health Clinic in Dunedin. Some Registered Service Providers (GPs) hold specialist clinics in other cities/towns on a weekly or monthly basis.

Healthcare for non-residents

Specialist Providers, HIV treatment and medication is free in New Zealand to everyone regardless of their residence or visa status. People legally in New Zealand on all visas including Tourist, Student, Working Holiday, Work, Residence or Permanent Residence are entitled to free HIV care. This is provided through the Public Hospitals, Sexual Health Departments and Infectious Diseases Departments.

Media Downloads

A full range of campaign posters are freely available for download below. Alternatively if you would like us to send your business or organisation a stock of printed A3 posters along with other information leaflets and booklets, you can order them here.