England and South African players took time out of their busy schedules this week during the ICC Champions Trophy to visit organisations in England and Wales and show solidarity with persons living with HIV.
England players James Tredwell, Ravi Bopara and Jos Buttler visited Terrence Higgins Trust and The Food Chain in London on Tuesday, while South Africa's JP Duminy, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Farhaan Behardien and assistant coach Russell Domingo visited Terrence Higgins Trust's offices in Cardiff today.
During both visits, players elected to have rapid HIV tests to help raise awareness for the service that the Trust offers, with Tredwell taking his test in London and Duminy and Miller doing theirs in Cardiff. Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK's largest HIV and sexual health charity and offers a wide range of services, including the rapid HIV test.
In Cardiff today, the South African players met persons living with HIV in Wales and learned about the stigma that they experience in their everyday life within their communities.
Commenting on the visit today, 24-year-old Miller said. "I took the rapid HIV test today to help raise awareness and also learn more for myself about my status. Being part of the Proteas squad visiting Terrence Higgins Trust in Cardiff today, with some media accompanying us, hopefully we've managed to raise awareness of HIV and how easy it is to get tested.
"As a group we spoke a lot and learnt about what to do and what not to do and ultimately to be loving and supporting to persons living with HIV. I was very surprised to hear how much persons living with HIV in Wales are suffering with stigma, we in South Africa have a similar issue but it is improving. Today has been a real eye-opener and reality check for all of us.
