AIDS DOWN, AIDS UP

Health, News by mcdermos on November 26, 2009 at 11:03 am

The UN AIDS Epidemic Update had good news for some, but not us here in the UK. The report found that globally, new HIV infections dropped by 17% in the last eight years. Meanwhile, in the West (UK, Europe and the US) new infections in gay men have begun to rise. Again.

Here’s the breakdown:

UK: 74% increase between 2000 and 2007

USA: 50% increase between 2003 and 2006

Europe: 39% increase between 2003 and 2007

The report adds the following chilling statement: “A re-emergence of the epidemic among men who have sex with men is now clearly apparent in many high income-countries.”

Internet chatter on the web, including this site, has questioned the success of recent HIV campaigns amongst the young. HOMOVISION has also had first hand reports from sexual health workers concerned at the number of young gay guys, under 21, who are unaware or unconcerned of the safer sex message.

What do you think? Join the HIV debate on MYHOMOVISION.

Tags: AIDS, Epidemic, europe, gay, gays, health, HIV, Men who have sex with men, Safe sex, sex, UK

William B

Blimey, don't start Mark off again! What more is there to say that hasn't been said?! Swift action, not more words, is what is needed. It would be great if Paul Burston would elaborate on the new National Aids Trust initiative, which is designed to encourage MPs to support a motion to ensure that young gay men receive appropriate information and education around HIV. This you have endorsed along with another advocate of harder hitting campaign, Dr. Chris Jessen. In respect of the fact that the NAT - despite not being a member of the CHAPS umbrella of orgs such as the THT and GMFA - has more or less gone along with their PC line and also perpetuated the stigma myth around harder hitting campaigns among others, is this just a charm offensive in reaction to the disquiet that has been building up in recent months, or a genuine commitment by the NAT to break away from the rest, change its stance and get tough with HIV all over again? I ask this because after all these years of the HIV sector's politicking and manipulations it's hard to not be cynical. Is this just more rhetoric that will not be matched by action? If not, then what does the NAT define as "appropriate" action, and the word "sensitive", which appears in its new policy statement, come to that? Sensitive to the feelings of those with the virus would, of course, just mean business as usual...