HIV Infection: Screening
(asked on 14th November 2023) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to collaborate with (a) community leaders, (b) faith-based organizations and (c) grassroots initiatives to (i) facilitate open conversations, (ii) reduce stigma and (iii) encourage testing about HIV.
HIV Prevention England (HPE) is the national HIV prevention programme for England and is funded at £3.5 million over three years by the Department, as part of the Government’s HIV Action Plan (HIVAP).
The programme aims to support communities who are disproportionately affected by HIV, in particular gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men and Black African heterosexual men and women. The Department has appointed Terrence Higgins Trust, a national charity who provide services related to sexual heath and HIV, to deliver the programme from 2021-2024. HPE delivers a nationally co-ordinated programme of HIV prevention work, including public campaigns such as National HIV Testing Week, that is designed to complement locally commissioned prevention activities in areas of high HIV prevalence. HPE also aims to improve knowledge and understanding of HIV transmission and reduce stigma within affected communities.
As part of the HIV Action Plan, we established a community advisory group (CAG) comprised by voluntary and community sector representatives who provide a forum to further enable strengthened partnerships and joint working to help meet the goals, objectives and actions in the HIVAP. They will also provide the HIV Action Plan Implementation Steering Group (ISG) with advice and expertise on its direction, approach, and outputs in regard to achieving the ambitions set out within the HIVAP. The ISG will consider the advice and, if needed, take appropriate action to ensure we meet our Action Plan’s objectives. Members of the CAG can be found at the following link: