Australia: Health Groups Unite to Fight HIV Rise

A new HIV prevention campaign developed by New South Wales Health in collaboration with major HIV organizations aims to combat the recent rise in HIV infections. The HIV Prevention Action Plan media campaign has three messages: HIV risk from unprotected sex is higher than it was 12 months ago; STDs such as syphilis are increasing and having an STD can facilitate both HIV acquisition and transmission; and the most effective protection is to consistently use condoms.

Community partners in the campaign include the AIDS Council of New South Wales (ACON), People Living with HIV/AIDS New South Wales, the Australian Society for HIV Medicine and metropolitan health services.

"We think that the increase in 2002 was a disturbing increase," said Lisa Ryan of NSW Health. "For there to be a further increase in 2003, we think there's something really significant going on and we would ask gay men who aren't consistently practicing safe sex to think really carefully about the risk that they may be taking," she said.

"The increase in figures has meant that we all want to invest energy in getting this under control, and if that means working more closely together than we may have done previously, if that can deliver a better outcome, then that's what we're looking for," said ACON President Adrian Lovney.

The campaign launch follows the federal government's response to the 2002 Reviews of the fourth National HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Strategies and Strategic Research. Health Minister Tony Abbott announced that a fifth national strategy would be developed, as recommended in the 2002 reviews. A new panel -- the Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis -- will be formed to help create that strategy.

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