MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

NHS Tayside supports World AIDS Day

Tuesday, 1 December is World AIDS Day and the NHS Tayside Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Managed Care Network is encouraging people in Tayside to continue to support the ‘Getting to ZERO!’ campaign.

HIV care has been revolutionised in the last 30 years. Whilst there is still no cure for HIV, the treatments available today are so effective that someone on treatment with an undetectable HIV viral load cannot pass on the virus. This is known as Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U).

‘Getting to ZERO!’ is a campaign created by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). It encompasses the ambitious targets of; ‘ZERO new HIV infections’, ‘ZERO late diagnoses’, ‘ZERO HIV related deaths’ and ‘ZERO stigma’ worldwide by 2030.

NHS Tayside Genito-Urinary Medicine Consultant, Dr Ciara Cunningham, said, “HIV transmission in gay and bisexual men has fallen by 50% from 2015 and this decline can be linked to the increasing use of preventative measures such as condoms, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and frequent HIV testing.

“The ‘Getting to ZERO’ campaign 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.

“Stigma has a harmful effect on people living with HIV and should end. We hope that this campaign encourages more people to come forward and be tested as people can benefit from early diagnosis and treatment.

“I would encourage everyone to Rock the Ribbon on Tuesday, 1^st December and stand with us to end HIV stigma, stop HIV by 2030 and support HIV rights.”

Last year, NHS Tayside exceeded the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, with 92% of people living with HIV being diagnosed, 96% of those diagnosed being on treatment and 97% of those on treatment having an undetectable viral load.

Access to testing and PrEP has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and free postal testing kits and bookable appointments are available.

For more information, visit www.sexualhealthtayside.org, http://www.menonlytayside.com or www.tht.org.uk.

Contact:

Cara Longmuir

Communications Department

NHS Tayside

01382 740716