NHS Tayside supports World AIDS Day

TUESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

NHS Tayside supports World AIDS Day

Saturday 1 December is World AIDS Day and the NHS Tayside Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Managed Care Network is “Painting the Town Red!” to mark the occasion.

Businesses, charities and statutory bodies across Tayside will join together on World AIDS Day to raise awareness and show their support for people living with HIV by lighting their buildings red, symbolising the Red Ribbon, the universal mark of awareness and support for people living with HIV, and remembrance of those who have died of AIDS.

Laura Shepherd, HIV Care Co-ordinator, said, “We wish to shine a light on World AIDS Day. We’re hoping that with the help of our partners, sharing positive messages around HIV treatment, we can begin to challenge and remove some of the stigma around HIV.”

The Dundee Train Station, Slessor Gardens, Caird Hall, Dundee House, the Steeple Church, Discovery, University of Dundee, Abertay University, DC Thomson Building Meadowside, Overgate, and Dundee Rep are lighting the building exteriors red to mark World AIDS Day.

Donna Thain, Managed Care Network (MCN) Manager, NHS Tayside, said, “Lots of myths and out of date information exist around HIV causing unnecessary fear and stigma. Our network wants to make sure that people living in Tayside know the facts.

“People living with HIV on treatment and who have undetectable viral loads cannot pass on the virus. We’re asking people to visit our website www.sexualhealthtayside.org or pop along to one of our information stalls to find out more and to wear a red ribbon.”

The MCN team will be holding events to mark World AIDS Day and to provide information:

    • Ninewells Hospital, main concourse, level 7, Friday, 30 November, 10am to 4pm

    • Park Run in Camperdown Park, Saturday, 1 December, from 9am

    • Overgate Shopping Centre, at the Costa curve, Saturday 1st December from 11am to 4.30pm

There have been major advances in HIV treatment in the last 30 years. Whilst there is still no cure for HIV, the treatments available today are so effective that someone with an undetectable HIV viral load on treatment cannot transmit HIV. The levels of HIV in the body are so low that they can’t be passed on sexually. This is known as Undetectable equals Untransmittable, or U=U. This is a major breakthrough to end new HIV transmissions.

Dr Ciara Cunningham, Genito-Urinary Medicine Consultant at NHS Tayside, said, “This should send a strong message to our community that people on effective HIV treatment can live healthily with this virus and do not transmit it to others. We hope that this encourages more people to test and to recognise the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.”

HIV testing is available all year round. Speak to your doctor or make an appointment at a Sexual Health Clinic if you would like to discuss testing. You can also visit www.sexualhealthtayside.org or www.menonlytayside.com for more information.

Contact:

Carin Pettersson

NHS Tayside,

01382 740716

Notes to editor:

What is HIV?

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus which attacks the body's immune system - the body's defence against diseases. When someone is described as living with HIV, they have the HIV virus in their body.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. A person with HIV is considered to have developed AIDS when the immune system is so weak it can no longer fight off a range of diseases with which it would normally cope.

How is HIV passed on?

HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal secretions or breast milk.

The most common ways HIV is passed on are:

    • Sex without a condom

    • Sharing infected needles, syringes or other injecting drug equipment

Is there a cure for HIV?

No, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy. People on HIV treatment can live a healthy, active life.

What does U=U mean?

Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) is a message about how effective HIV treatment is today. HIV treatments work by reducing the amount of HIV in the body (the viral load). When the viral load gets low enough, people are said to be ‘Undetectable’. It can take up to six months of treatment to reach this point. If a person stays undetectable, they CANNOT pass HIV on to sexual partners.

Is HIV still a problem?

HIV diagnoses are falling in Scotland, meaning the spread of the virus is slowing down and prevention activities are working however, nearly half of people who test positive are finding out they have HIV very late, meaning the virus may have damaged their health permanently.

How many people are living with HIV in Scotland?
There are currently an estimated 4,640 people living with HIV in Scotland, with 98% of those people receiving treatment. In 2017 there were as few as 186 new cases of HIV and no deaths related to HIV or AIDS.

(Public Health England 2018 & Health Protection Scotland, 2018)

27 November 2018