Lea Dickson of Positive Life, Northern Ireland’s only dedicated HIV charity, said, “It would be deeply disappointing if Northern Ireland did not get access to this new drug.”
“In Northern Ireland we know that stigma, conservative attitudes towards sex and sexuality, and outdated perceptions of HIV still affect how people approach sexual health and access HIV testing and treatment. This is critical because HIV testing and knowing your HIV status is one of the most important ways to prevent transmission of the virus.
“PrEP in tablet form is available across all five health trusts here, but it still has a somewhat low level of awareness in Northern Ireland. A recent Department of Health survey revealed that general awareness of HIV in Northern Ireland is falling (from 94% to 87%), and among those who are aware of it, only 17% were aware that PrEP is proven to protect against acquiring HIV.
“Any healthcare innovation which empowers people to proactively look after their sexual health must be fully supported and actively promoted.
“We would like to see a sharper focus on HIV prevention in Northern Ireland: we’re close to eliminating new HIV diagnoses here, but we can’t achieve that without a focused and adequately funded effort.”
If you are affected by or living with a positive HIV diagnosis in Northern Ireland and need support – please contact Positive Life on free phone 0800 137 437 during normal office hours.
Link to BBC News story: ‘Game-changing’ HIV protection jab approved in England and Wales’
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