After recently stepping down as Chair of the Martin Fisher Foundation to focus on other ventures, Dr Adrian Brown talks to James Ledward about the achievements of the Foundation in its first two years.
Professor Martin Fisher died tragically and suddenly in April 2015. His work and research helped to improve the lives of many people living with HIV in Brighton & Hove, nationally and around the world. Martin always remained focused on putting patients first. His loss was felt across the local and professional community, but most intensely by his long-term partner, Dr Adrian Brown. Despite the difficult circumstance, Adrian was determined to help to take forward Martin’s vision and, as founder of the Martin Fisher Foundation, has been instrumental in developing the Towards Zero HIV Strategy for the city.
Tell me about yourself. “I’m a medical doctor, trained as a consultant in public health and I moved to Brighton in 2001. I worked for a short period in Sussex but mainly did the daily commute to London. Outside my paid work I set up the charity Maternity Worldwide, based in Brighton working to save lives in childbirth in Africa. So I had a lot of useful experience for setting up the Foundation.”
What do you love and hate about Brighton? “I love the sea, the Pavilion, the buzz in the festival month; that generally people are very friendly across all walks of life. It’s not a hate, but I get frustrated that the city seems slow to grasp opportunities for example in regeneration and re-development – plus restaurants close too early!”
What interests you outside of work? “I travel a lot – this includes several trips a year to Africa for Maternity Worldwide. I particularly love Malawi where the people are so welcoming and happy and generous despite often having nothing.”
Where have you got the strength and support you needed since Martin’s tragic death? “I received some professional help, but my family and close friends have helped the most, as well as some people I didn’t previously know. It has been and still is incredibly tough and at first I just wanted to ‘escape’ from things in any way possible. I understand how vulnerable we all are and that, without love and support, we are very much at risk when faced with tragedy.”
How did you stay driven and focused to be able to set up the Foundation? “Looking back I really don’t know how I managed to do this, especially organising the big memorial and launch of Towards Zero at Brighton Dome only a few months after Martin’s death. I think somehow I went onto autopilot and found strength from within.”
What are you, and do you think Martin would be, most proud of? “Within the first two years I was able to lead the Foundation to facilitate Brighton & Hove becoming the first UNAIDS Fast Track City in the UK. Martin really had wanted this and would have been very proud that we beat London to it!
“I’m proud of leading the development of the Towards Zero HIV Strategy and being able to bring together over 20 organisations across the community to help write and endorse it. It felt amazing taking part in two Pride parades – I’ve run the Brighton Marathon three times and the crowd is fantastic – but it doesn’t come near to the support at Pride!
“In September last year a school, my friend and I completed our ‘Big UK Challenge’ cycling 1,402 miles from the top of Shetland to the southern most point in the Scilly Isles – also climbing the major peaks on the way. This raised around £8,000 for the two charities.”
What have been your biggest challenges over the past two years and what would you have done differently? “I’ve mentioned the personal challenges – but it was tough both leading the organisation and having to do most of the ‘doing’ at the same time. With a couple of notable exceptions, it was difficult to find volunteers to support day-to-day work. I think perhaps I was also a little too ambitious which led to spinning too many plates.”
You co-organised an event for last year’s Brighton Festival – HIV: Is Victory in Sight – do you think we can ever get ‘Towards Zero HIV in Brighton & Hove’? “The reduction in the number of new cases of HIV each month in Brighton and London is very encouraging, and although it’s not fully understood yet, appears to be a result of ‘combination prevention’ – people living with HIV being diagnosed more quickly (better testing); starting treatment promptly and becoming undetectable and uninfectious (treatment as prevention); and an increase in the number of people who are at high risk of contracting the virus taking PrEP.
“If we further increase rates of testing and work across the community so that everyone has their own appropriate ‘personal prevention strategy’, then I think we can get Towards Zero HIV by 2025.”
What do you see as the biggest challenges in implementing the Towards Zero Strategy? “Stigma around living with, and testing for HIV, lack of up to date information and prejudice in the general and specific communities (including LGBT+) are the biggest barriers. Tackling stigma should be the priority to support Towards Zero. We also need to support and engage all parts of the diverse communities – not just the ‘usual suspects’ and try new innovate ways to do this (for example an increased role for the business sector, digital media etc).”
What will you do now you’ve left the Foundation and what are your plans for the rest of the year? “It was always my plan to step down from Chair of the Foundation once it was up and running, after around two years. I remain committed to supporting Martin’s ethos and vision and will continue to do this. I left my paid job in June 2016 to concentrate on charity work – so do now need to start earning again!
“I have recently set up a social impact business in Africa – using solar to dry fruit for export – and we now have our first products for sale, so very different but I think equally challenging and rewarding!”
You must be logged in to post a comment.