World AIDS day 2010

World AIDS day 2010

It is about 30 years since HIV, the virus that causes AIDS started to affect people around the world.  World AIDS Day was launched back in 1988 to help increase public awareness, raise funds, challenge prejudice and improve education about HIV and AIDS.

This year the theme for World AIDS Day is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'.  What that means is that leaders across the world have made a pledge to work towards making sure that no matter where you live, if you have HIV and AIDS you get the treatment, prevention and care needed.  Here in the Wakefield district you might take these things for granted, but in some countries around the world this isn’t happening.

Fact and figures

• 34 million people around the world are living with HIV
• By the end of 2008, there were about 83,000 people living with HIV in the UK and a quarter of them didn’t know they had the infection. 
• 15 to 24 year olds, particularly young women, are amongst the most vulnerable to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the UK.
• HIV in people over the age of sixty has more than doubled in the past seven years.
• In the Wakefield district, a significant number of new HIV infections are diagnosed late.

Although advances in medical treatment have improved the quality of life of people living with HIV, there is still no cure.  The earlier HIV is diagnosed and treated, the less likely that it will be passed on to other people.

How can I make sure I don’t get it?

The only way to stop the spread of HIV is by

• Using a condom correctly every time you have sex
• Reducing your number of sexual partners

What is the NHS doing to help?

Locally our Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics offer appointments within two days for people worried about HIV. 

We are also redesigning our sexual health services so that there are more places to go for HIV information, advice, care and treatment, as well as contraception, especially the long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), and unplanned pregnancy support.

We’ve got a free condom distribution scheme called the C-Card scheme for young people under 25.

And this website has lots of information and advice on HIV, STIs and local sexual health services that can help.

What should I do if I think I have HIV?

If you think you have HIV or any STI please go to your local GP or sexual health service as soon as possible.