Axel Vanderperre: A Distinguished Advocate for Ageing Individuals Living with HIV

Axel Vanderperre, based in Brussels, Belgium, has dedicated nearly 35 years of his life to advocating for individuals living with HIV, with a particular emphasis on the ageing population within this community. In 2017, he founded UTOPIA_BXL, a non-profit organization that addresses the specific needs and expectations of ageing individuals living with HIV while also promoting education and empowerment within this community.

With over three decades of experience in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, Axel possesses extensive expertise in clinical research and communications. In 2016, he pivoted his focus towards developing initiatives that provide tangible benefits for both patients and medical professionals. These initiatives specifically target the needs of people living with HIV through projects such as surveys, medical education, and self-management programs.

Axel also coordinates the Positive Council in Belgium, a consultative body for people living with HIV established by the Interministerial Conference of Public Health on February 24, 2014. Additionally, he is spearheading the development of the National Day of Positive Health and HIV in Belgium. This initiative aims to enhance dialogue between people living with HIV (PLHIV) and healthcare professionals, and through workshops, it seeks to motivate PLHIV to improve their self-management skills.

As an active member of the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), Axel played a crucial role in launching the Glasgow Manifesto at the HIV Glasgow 2022 conference. This manifesto advocates for improved clinical pathways and support for older individuals living with HIV. Axel is also a founding member of the International Coalition of Older People with HIV (iCOPe HIV). His work underscores the importance of addressing comorbidities, mental health, and the overall quality of life for this demographic.

In discussing HIV stigma and discrimination, Axel remarked, “I haven’t experienced much stigma or discrimination in recent years. In my early years, I was more concerned about self-stigma, fearing that people would recognize me as having HIV due to lipodystrophy. In Belgium, there was and still is no reimbursement for lipid-filling injections.”