My life living with HIV

The number of people with HIV in the UK rose by more than 5,000 last year.

Some 58,300 are now living with the infection, including 26-year-old Clint Walters who was diagnosed when he was 17.

Mr Walters was diagnosed nine years ago

"When I was first diagnosed I thought I was going to die," he said.

"I was living in fear. I couldn't tell anyone about what I was going through."

Mr Walters, who is gay and lives in London, said to reach the age he is now is quite an achievement but it does not make his life any easier.

"HIV impacts on every area of my life. Having this on-going battle with the infection leaves me more open to infection.

"I have a cold at the moment and while the average person would shake it off in a day it takes me a week."

It may not be the life sentence it once was but you are fighting a battle each day Clint Walters HIV cases 'still rising'

And despite remaining fit and healthy - Mr Walters is training for the London marathon next year - he said the virus was always in his thoughts.

"I have to eat healthy food and keep abreast of the latest research, all to make sure my body keeps on top of the game.

"There is a lot of uncertainty about how long this drug treatment will last. Eventually the virus will win."

But he said that the success of HIV drugs - he takes 13 pills a day - means that the public has started to think the virus is less risky.

"People no longer believe it is the problem it once was. They think it is a manageable condition like diabetes.

"But it isn't. It may not be the life sentence it once was but you are fighting a battle each day."

And Mr Walters, who founded a charity, Health Initiatives, in 1999 to offer support to people with HIV, added it was time for the government to act.

"Sex education is failing kids. The government needs to do more, it has not made sexual health a number one priority."