Is Scotland doing enough to combat the spread of HIV?

Published on Thursday 24 January 2008 20:11

NO Roy Kilpatrick, Chief executive, HIV Scotland

The risk in saying not enough is being done to tackle HIV in Scotland is that it may be seen as pointing the finger – with the other four pointing towards oneself! One thing is sure, neither complacency nor self-congratulation have any place.

Levels of HIV are at their highest ever. Gay men make up 87 per cent of infections. More young people than ever aged 15 to 24 are being diagnosed.

Successes among intravenous drug users, a doubling of HIV testing levels and universal access to high-quality HIV treatment and support deserve recognition. But we face major challenges.

Effective HIV prevention in Scotland demands a comprehensive approach – promoting awareness, building equality, providing the right support. Although in many areas these measures are in place, they are either insufficiently intense or inconsistent, or they are not enough on their own.

Scotland needs to tackle HIV as a shared responsibility. Therein lie both the problem and the solution – we think it's someone else's crisis.

But when we recognise the part we play and demonstrate responsibility as parents, teachers, workers, lovers, then barriers come down.

We must become comfortable in discussing relationships and recognise the right to safe and positive sex. Young people can learn the mechanics of sex, but emotional competence comes through sharing experience across generations and genders.

Scotland has shown real leadership in tackling drug-related HIV.With close collaboration, similar innovation and renewed vigour, we can all contribute to the task with the prospect of fresh success.

YES

Shona Robison, public health minister

This week's HIV statistics provide incontrovertible evidence that the virus is as much of a problem for Scotland now as it has ever been. But let there be no doubt that the Scottish Government is doing everything it can to reduce HIV infections and raise awareness of what is undoubtedly one of Scotland's most serious public health issues.

That is why, later this year, we will be launching a public awareness campaign to improve attitudes towards relationships and sexual health. Preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections will be at the heart of this campaign.

The key message that we continue to put forward is that practising safer sex using a condom is the single most important thing that anyone can do to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

We recognise that there has not been a major public awareness campaign about HIV for some years and this is why we see it as essential that this campaign is launched.

We also work with a number of HIV charities such as HIV Scotland, Healthy Gay Scotland, Waverley Care and the Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland. These, and other organisations, do sterling work in preventing the spread of HIV and working with those people who are living with the virus.

Our sexual health strategy, "Respect and Responsibility", is helping to improve access to sexual health services for STI and HIV testing, and to improve sex education.

I am confident the work we are taking forward in conjunction with health boards and the voluntary sector will have a real impact on reducing HIV rates.