NHS Norfolk and Waveney is urging everyone to be more aware of the facts about HIV, and act on that knowledge, as World AIDS Day takes place on Thursday 1 December 2011.
The UK theme for World AIDS Day is Act Aware. The aims are to ensure that we all know more about HIV so we can take care of our health and that of others, and also to end prejudice against people who have the virus.
There is no cure for HIV, but treatment can keep the virus under control and the immune system healthy.
While people living with HIV have a potentially shortened lifespan there is now clear evidence, that with early intervention and medical treatment, they can live long and productive lives.
Anyone who is sexually active or uses injecting equipment is at risk of acquiring HIV.
There are more than 90,000 people with HIV in the UK and there are about 6,000-7,000 new diagnoses every year.
More heterosexual people than gay men were diagnosed with HIV in 2007: more than 1 in 10 new diagnosis were among young people and 5% of people diagnosed were over 55.
Jonathan Williams, an Assistant Director of Public Health at NHS Norfolk and Waveney, said: “HIV can be passed on through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluids, sharing injecting equipment, or breast milk. One of the most common ways that the virus is passed on is by having sex without a condom with someone living with HIV.
“Free condoms are available at sexual health clinics a GP surgeries and via the C-Card scheme, visit www.norfolk.nhs.uk or www.gywpct.nhs.uk for more details.”
Allison Chaplin, HIV commissioner for NHS Norfolk and Waveney, added: “Within NHS Norfolk & Waveney there are more than 450 people living with HIV and we continue to support these patients and those whom support and care for them by providing access to a wide variety of services.
“Services such as EAST in Norfolk and the Terrence Higgins Trust in Waveney support those people from the initial diagnosis to enabling people to self manage their condition to improve their physical and emotional well being.”
For more details about HIV, visit www.tht.org.uk or www.HIVaware.org.uk
Visit the World AIDS Day website at: www.worldaidsday.org
