Charlie Sheen plans to 'deliver HIV cure'
Charlie Sheen believes he could be able to "deliver a cure" for HIV, after being diagnosed as HIV positive four years ago.
The 50-year-old actor revealed in an interview on the 'TODAY' show on Tuesday (17.11.15) that he was diagnosed as HIV positive four years ago and has hopes that he can "deliver a cure".
He said: "If there was one guy on this planet to contract this, that's going to deliver a cure, it's me."
And Charlie also hopes that going public with his diagnosis will help to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV.
He said: "I have a responsibility now to better myself and to help a lot of other people and hopefully with what we're doing today others will come forward and say, 'thanks Charlie, thanks for kicking the door open'.
"I'm not going to be the poster man for this, but I will not shun away from responsibilities."
Charlie decided to go public with his illness after being blackmailed out of millions by people who threatened to reveal his secret.
He said: "We're talking about shakedowns. I've paid people, not that many, but enough to bring it into the millions and what people forget is that's money you've taken from my kids.
"I trusted them and they were deep in my inner circle, and I thought they could be helpful. My trust turned to their treason. I think I released myself from this prison today."
Dr. Robert Huizenga, who has treated Charlie for the past "five or six years", also appeared on the show and clarified that the actor does not have AIDS.
He said: "Charlie does not have AIDS. AIDS is a condition when the HIV virus markedly suppresses the immune system and you're susceptible to rare, difficult cancers and infections. Charlie has none of those. He is healthy. He does not have AIDS."
